If you wanted more playoff hockey, Prince George, you’ve got it.
The Prince George Spruce Kings guaranteed there will be a Game 6 on Sunday evening in their BCHL Coastal Conference quarterfinal series after defeating the Chilliwack Chiefs 5–2 on Wednesday to tie the series 2–2 in front of 1,081 fans at Kopar Memorial Arena.
Linden Makow sparked the Kings’ offence with two goals, but the story of the game was goaltender Charles-Edward Gravel, who made 43 saves to send the series back to Chilliwack all square.
“Obviously, we’re happy. We went into their home and lost two games, so these two wins were really important to us. We worked really hard and deserved those wins,” said Gravel, a 21-year-old native of Lévis, Que.
“It’s playoff hockey and both teams showed up. We did a really good job. At the end of the day, I think the team that played the best won — and that’s why we won both games. I think the guys are willing to sacrifice their bodies and block shots, and that helps us win games.”
The guy his teammates call “Gravy” is one of the main reasons the Spruce Kings made the playoffs, thanks to a late-season surge to secure eighth place in the conference. As he’s done so often since joining the team in early February, Gravel set the tone with key early saves that gave his teammates confidence.
“That’s why you bring a kid like Charles in — to steal you a game,” said Spruce Kings head coach Brad Tesink. “I think through 40 minutes, he did just that. He allowed our guys to find their feet tonight, and by the third period, it was a complete team effort.
“If you’re going to win a series, guys have to do things out of their comfort zone, and I think we’re starting to see that. We have guys who were offensive players becoming two-way players, and defending players who are finding ways to get to the net and create scoring chances. Everybody is adapting game by game, and I think heading into Game 5, we’re in a good space mentally.”
The Spruce Kings ended the second period with back-to-back goals 71 seconds apart to take a 4–2 lead into the intermission. The first came on a power play. Cummings misfired on a backhander just outside the crease, and the puck skipped over to Makow, who dropped to one knee and found the open side of the net for his second of the game — ultimately the game-winner.
Then, at 17:26, Ryan Wachtel joined the scoring, following up on a rush by Nicholas Papineau that forced Miller to make a save. From a sharp angle, Wachtel lofted in the rebound.
“They came out hot, and we had to match their intensity — we’re happy with that result out there,” said Makow. “It’s tough to play in our rink. It’s super physical, and that’s hard to play against. That was one of the best performances I’ve seen out of (Gravel)— that was pretty impressive. He’s having the most fun out of everyone, I tell ya.”
Chilliwack outshot the Kings 13–3 in the opening period and had several Grade-A chances turned aside by Gravel, who also made a terrific glove save early in the second period to deny Caleb Malhotra on a 2-on-1 one-timer — his best stop of the night, he said.
For the second time in the series, the Spruce Kings struck first — this time on their first shot of the game, just past the midway point of the first period. One minute into their first power play, Trent Ledrew unleashed a shot from the point that Brock Cummings tipped just under the glove of goalie Quentin Miller.
The Chiefs were much tighter defensively than in their 3–1 loss in Game 3 on Tuesday, and the Cummings goal was Prince George’s only quality chance in the first. But Chilliwack gained traction as the game progressed, creating much more offensive zone time in the second and third periods.
“I think we found different ways each night,” said Tesink. “On Tuesday, we were more on the front foot and able to take charge with a bit more O-zone time. Tonight, there were moments we had to battle through adversity, and I think we were better for it.
“Our third period was unbelievable — every guy stepped up and took charge. It was selfless hockey.”
Chilliwack’s shot advantage grew to 21–10 when Spruce Kings’ Swedish import defenceman Ludvig Basth fired from the left-side wall and Makow tipped it in for a 2–0 lead at 6:39 of the second.
The Spruce Kings were two men short when Chilliwack finally broke through. Carter Anderson unleashed a shot from the point, and the rebound off Gravel’s pads landed perfectly for Caleb Elfering, who blasted it home from the left circle.
Brady Milburn tied it soon after. He blocked an Isaac Holt shot from just inside the far blue line, then chased the puck down and fired a shot into the top corner on a breakaway.
The Chiefs could easily have had more than two goals, considering Gravel’s heroics.
“Credit to their goalie — I think he stole one from us,” said Chiefs captain Mateo Mrsic. “Last night wasn’t our best, but tonight he really showed what he can do. The shots speak for themselves. If we keep playing like that, good things will happen.
“The way we play—we’re a skilled, fast-paced team — and it’s obviously tougher in this rink. But once we get back home, we should be fine. To be honest, I think this team is making us better. We’ve just got to do our part and get ready for Game 5. All we need is our confidence, and good things will happen.”
After being outshot 22–14 in the second, the Chiefs fired 10 more at Gravel in the third — and he stopped them all. The Kings didn’t sit back and continued generating chances, finishing with eight shots in the third. Final shots were 43–25 in favor of Chilliwack.
Miller was on the bench when Anderson took a high-sticking penalty with three minutes left. His best chance on the ensuing power play was turned away by Gravel’s blocker.
As in Game 3, the Spruce Kings won the special teams battle. They went 2-for-5 on the power play and held Chilliwack to one goal on six chances.
“It’s good goaltending from both sides. Unfortunately, they got some tipped goals, and even the power-play goals they scored came off scrums — you can’t structurally defend that. It’s pucks coming off pads right to sticks,” said Chiefs head coach Brian Maloney.
“There’s not a lot of room out there. It’s different hockey. You’re not going to get the looks you’d get on a standard-sized rink, and you have to adapt. PG did a good job taking away the middle and forcing us to the perimeter. We just need to create more and take away (Gravel’s) eyes. We got beat by a goaltender tonight.
“PG is certainly not an eighth-place team,” he added. “With the goaltender they’ve got now and the kids in their lineup, they’re a fourth- or fifth-place team, in my opinion. It’s beyond tight-checking — it’s grappling out there, to be honest.”
It’s now a best-of-three. The teams meet again Friday in Chilliwack, then return to Prince George for Game 6 on Sunday (6 p.m.). If necessary, Game 7 will be Tuesday in Chilliwack.
LOOSE PUCKS: Gravel and Miller faced off several times in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League, and Gravel says he enjoys going head-to-head with the 20-year-old Montreal Canadiens draft pick (4th round, 2023). “Quentin is a really good goalie, and I think it’s a good challenge for both of us,” said Gravel. “He’s a Frenchie just like me — it’s a good battle, and I’m happy to do it.” ... Jack Sullivan scored the only goal 1:17 into overtime, and Andrew Ness stopped all 63 shots he faced to lead the Coquitlam Express to a 1-0 win Wednesday over the visiting Victoria Grizzlies. That series is now tied 2-2 ... In Cranbrook, Blake Cotton’s second goal of the game at 1:35 of triple overtime lifted the Cranbrook Bucks to a 7-6 win over the Trail Smoke Eaters to tie that series 2-2 ... The Penticton Vees became the first team to advance to the second round, completing a four-game sweep of the Okotoks Oilers with a 4-2 win Wednesday in Alberta ... Also advancing were the Sherwood Park Crusaders, 7-4 winners over the Salmon Arm Silverbacks in Salmon Arm ... In Nanaimo, the Clippers staved off elimination with a 5-2 win over the Cowichan Valley Capitals, who still lead the series 3-1 ... The Brooks Bandits beat the West Kelowna Warriors 2-1 on the road to take a 3-1 series lead. ... In the late game Wednesday, Cole Bishop scored for the Alberni Valley Bulldogs 8:23 into triple-overtime to defeat the Surrey Eagles 4-3. Colin Winn stopped 78 of 81 shots in goal for the Bulldogs, who now lead that series 3-1.
