The Express rolled through Prince George Saturday night and left the Prince George Spruce Kings stranded at the station.
Despite outshooting the Coquitlam Express 41-24 in B.C. Hockey League action at Rolling Mix Concrete Arena, the Spruce Kings departed the ice at Rolling Mix Concrete Arena on the short end of a 3-1 score.
Mathew Campbell and Ryan Tattle scored power-play goals three minutes apart in the late stages of the second period to put the Express in the driver’s seat. Connor Mackenzie stopped all 18 shots he faced in the third period to hand the Kings their third loss in four games, in front of 649 witnesses in the building formerly known as the Prince George Coliseum.
Arlo Merritt added an empty-net goal to seal the win.
Rowan Miller staked the Kings to a 1-0 lead on a Prince George power play 13 minutes into the game. John Herrington drew an assist to remain the BCHL’s scoring leader. Through 15 games, the Hudson’s Hope native has 10 goals and 12 assists, one point ahead of teammate Nick Rheaume, who 10 goals and 11 assists puts his second in the league scoring chart.
The Spruce Kings played shorthanded eight times and gave up two goals on the penalty kill. Miller’s goal was all the league’s top-ranked power play could muster in four opportunities. The Spruce Kings’ power play still leads the BCHL with a 35.4 per cent success rate, scoring on 23 of their 65 chances.
Jordan Fairlie took the loss in net for the Kings after stopping 21 of 23 shots.
The Spruce Kings (9-6-0-0-0) remain fifth in the Interior Conference. Coquitlam (5-8-1-1-0) sits eighth in the Coastal Conference.
The Kings will be on the road next weekend to visit the Surrey Eagles on Friday and the Merritt Centennials on Saturday. They’ll return to Rolling Mix to host the Chilliwack Chiefs on Nov. 26, followed by a date with the Nanaimo Clippers on Nov. 27.
