Despite a third period comeback, the Smoke Eaters find themselves on the wrong side of the score line as Prince George score late to win 4-3 on Friday night.
The Smoke Eaters got the start they were looking for against a Prince George team that has found plenty of success when playing with the lead so far this season. It’s wasn’t until the back half of the first period that the Smoke Eaters got there break through and it came from the Smoke Eaters line of Jack Kurrle, Remy Spooner and Connor Seeley, who were noticeable all night, as Kurrle finished off a net front scramble with a backhand shot past the glove of Jordan Fairlie.
The second period was a complete flip for the Spruce Kings who struggled in the opening twenty minutes but found their legs in the second, score two goals off the rush. The Spruce Kings first goal came off a tipped shot from Herrington as the point shot was knocked down past Keegan Maddocks in the Trail net to tie the game at 1. The Spruce Kings would take the lead on a partial breakaway for Austin Fraser who put a low shot on Maddocks from the right circle, who could do nothing but kick the puck out right to Killian Mcgregor-Bennett who had a tap in for a 2-1 Prince George lead. The Spruce kinda would get a similar opportunity as late in the second as the puck would hit off the crowd in front to a wide open Luca Primerano, who also had a wide open net to score into, making it 3-1 Spruce Kings.
The Smoke Eaters wouldn’t be deterred however heading into the third period as they would turnover that two goal deficit. Striking first was Ridge Dawson who continues to get better game by game as he’s found his scoring touch from late last season. Dawson took the chipped pass from Trey Fechko, walked around the Spruce Kings defensemen towards the net where he deked to his back hand and shoveled the puck over the shoulder of Fairlie to make it 3-2.
Disher would get in the board to tie the game as he combined with Jordan Hendry and Adam Marshall in a play that started behind the Smoke Eaters net with Hendry and found Disher in the slot for the tying goal.
The Smoke Eaters, who were just over a minute away from earning at least a point for their efforts lost the sight of the puck on the last goal as Herrington was able to skate to the right side of the net, taking the pass from Austin Fraser and beating Maddocks in tight for a late winner with just over a minute to play. The Smoke Eater will now look to hit back as the Merritt Centennials come to town, also coming off a loss on Friday night.
