The Cranbrook Bucks are back in the saddle.
After losing the first two games of their BCHL Interior Conference quarterfinal best-of-seven series over the weekend in Prince George, the Bucks returned to their home rink Monday and scored a convincing 3-0 victory over the Prince George Spruce Kings.
The Bucks got to the Kings early, taking advantage of a turnover and Zeth Kindrachuk scored his second goal of the series. Kings defenceman Amran Bhabra overskated the puck and Kindrachuk went the other way behind the net and spun off a wrist shot from the circle that sailed in over the glove of goalie Aaron Trotter.
Cranbrook added to the lead with a pair of power-play goals. A.J. Vasko snapped in a cross-ice pass from Tyson Dyck that found its way into the net 18 minutes into the first period.
The Bucks continually peppered shots at Trotter, who earned the league’s Second Star of the Week Award after he allowed just two goals in the first two games, both 4-1 Prince George victories. Cranbrook outshot the Kings 17-6 in the opening period.
The Prince George penalty-killers were out again early in the second period after Rowan Miller got caught holding and Kings centre John Herrington had a shorthanded chance when he got the puck across the Bucks blueline on a 2-on-1 break with Nick Rheaume, but Luke Phoh broke up the play and went in on a 3-on-2 rush. Trotter stopped the initial shot from Kellen Hjartarson, but Phoh raced in and jammed in the rebound for a 3-0 lead.
The Kings had a few chances but were rarely able to get set up in the Cranbrook end, unable to connect on their passes to create any sustained pressure. Their defensive coverage was porous and they leaned far too much on Trotter to make the saves. Outshot 33-14 through two periods, they had a better third period but penalties disrupted their flow. The Bucks finished the night 2-for-6 on the power play. Prince George was 0-for-3.
Nathan Airey stopped all 27 shots for his first career BCHL shutout.
It was the first junior hockey playoff game in seven years in Cranbrook, dating back to the city’s history as home of the WHL’s Kootenay Ice.
Game 4 will be played Tuesday. Game time in 6 p.m. PT. The Bucks welcome the return of their top two centres, Noah Quinn and Liam Hansson, who both missed the second and third games of the series serving two-game suspensions for illegal hits in Game 1. Hansson’s high hit on Kings’ winger Luke German eft German with a concussion which will keep him sidelined for at least the rest of the series.
The Kings still lead the series 2-1 and will host Game 5 Thursday night at Rolling Mix Concrete Arena. If Game 6 is needed, it would be played Saturday in Cranbrook, with a seventh game, if needed, is scheduled for Monday at RMCA.
