The Prince George Spruce Kings had the Chilliwack Chiefs right where they wanted them.
But somehow, the first-place Chiefs found a way to wriggle off the hook.
They scored two goals in the final 3 1/2 minutes and left the Spruce Kings empty handed, escaping with a 3-2 BC Hockey League victory Saturday night in Chilliwack.
Nathan Morin tied it at the 16:33 mark while the Chiefs were playing shorthanded. Then with just 24 seconds left on the clock, Mateo Mrsic beat Kings goalie Ryder Green with the gamewinner.
That spoiled what was otherwise a solid road effort for the Spruce Kings, who started their trip with a 6-3 loss Friday in Langley.
Sebastien Gatto stopped 23 of 25 shots, while Green took the loss in net for Prince George while making 24 saves.
Skogan Schrott tied it for the Kings in the first period after Lucas Sorace scored 3:40 shorthanded into the game. Brogan McNeil gave Prince George the lead in the second period on a Kings’ power play. Schrott assisted on that one to finish the game with a goal and an assist.
The loss dropped the Spruce Kings (6-11-2-1) into ninth place in the Coastal Conference, 15 points behind the conference-leading Chiefs (14-4-2-0).
The Spruce Kings will have four days of practice to get ready for the Spruce Grove Saints when they make their first-ever visit to Kopar Memorial Arena on Saturday (6 p.m.).
The Saints (7-11-1-0, ninth in Interior Conference) are one of the five Alberta teams to join the BCHL this season.
