One goal.
That was the difference between a win and a loss for the Prince George Spruce Kings and Langley Rivermen Tuesday in Game 1 of a best-of-seven B.C. Hockey League Mainland Division series tilt in Langley.
And it was the Kings who came away with a 1-0 victory on a goal from 19-year-old forward Daniel Nachbaur with 66 seconds left in regulation.
A broken play by the Rivermen in the neutral zone caused the Kings to break away three-on-one with Nachbaur's shot going off a defender's stick and going into the top corner past Langley netminder Bo Didur.
The Kings now have a 1-0 playoff series lead - the two teams return to action tonight in Langley for Game 2.
Game 1 was a tightly-contested affair as neither squad couldn't capitalize on their scoring chances as both netminders - Jesse Jenks for Prince George and Didur for Langley - made fantastic saves to keep their teams in the game.
Kings captain Chad Staley thought he scored half-way through the third period but it was waved off due to a high stick.
The Rivermen successfully killed off a two-minute penalty after Domenic Masellis was called for hooking with 4:06 remaining in the game.
Prince George couldn't score then, but Nachbaur made good on his unassisted scoring chance less than a minute later.
The Rivermen outshot the Kings 34-27, including 10-4 in the third period alone.
The two teams meet again tonight at 7 p.m. at the Langley Events Centre.
The Kings host the Rivermen for Games 3 and 4 Friday and Saturday at the Coliseum.
