The Prince George Spruce Kings are cooking with gas, just in time to fuel their BCHL playoff ambitions.
Owen Goodbrand scored 3:25 into overtime to give the visiting Spruce Kings a 2-1 win over the Nanaimo Clippers on Saturday, ending Nanaimo’s seven-game winning streak.
It was the fourth straight victory for the Kings, whose streak has coincided with the addition of QMJHL veteran 20-year-old goalie Charles-Edward Gravel two weeks ago.
‘Gravy,’ as his teammates call him, made 20 saves, three in overtime, to improve his BCHL record to a perfect 4-0.
Goodbrand took advantage of a turnover when Clippers forward Cole Lonsdale tripped and fell to the ice while carrying the puck. That set up a partial breakaway and Goodbrand buried his chance on goalie Chazz Nixon.
Goodbrand also notched the winning goal in Friday’s 5-2 win over the Cowichan Valley Capitals.
Mason Loewen opened the scoring for Prince George 13:46 into the second period, scoring on a rebound. The Clippers tied it up on a power play two minutes later when Lonsdale found the net for his 22nd goal of the season.
The Spruce Kings outshot the Clippers 27-21.
Prince George gained two points on the team they’re trying to catch when the Langley Rivermen, who lost 8-3 on home ice Saturday to the Alberni Valley Bulldogs. The Kings (17-20-3-1) are now just three points behind Langley (17-18-6-1) in the race for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Coastal Conference.
Langley hosts Cowichan Valley on Sunday.
The Spruce Kings return to Kopar Memorial Arena Friday and Saturday when they take in the conference-leading Chilliwack Chiefs.
