For the second night in a row and the Smoke Eaters third straight game, a shootout was needed to decide the result, but unfortunately for the Spruce Kings, the Smoke Eaters possess Teddy Lagerback.
The game started slow, it was almost as if the Smoke Eaters and Spruce Kings needed another period to feel each other out and get a sense of what team they were going to be seeing tonight. It was also a cautious approach by both teams given the eight goals scored in Friday nights game. The Smoke Eaters didn’t really have the room to create much in the first but still managed to out shoot the Spruce Kings 11-7.
In the second we got some goals and a Ridge Dawson fight. Dawson, after throwing a huge hit in the Prince George zone, drew the attention of Dylan Shives as the two squared up at centre ice with both players landing significant blows in a spirited bout. In terms of goals it was the powerplay or both teams that got the games first goals. After no penalties were called the Smoke Eaters were handed two in quick succession giving the Spruce Kings another 5-on-3 powerplay. This time the made sure to capitalize as Nick Rheaume picked the corner of Evan Fradette. The Smoke Eaters just minutes later would get a powerplay of their own, as the second unit moved the puck around until finally they found Charlie Strobel at the back post to tie the game at 1.
The Smoke Eaters didn’t have to wait long for another powerplay opportunity as just two minutes later they would head back to the man advantage with this time the Smoke Eater captain adding his name to the goal sheet to make it 2-1 Smoke Eaters.
Jump ahead to the third where the Smoke Eaters held a 2-1 lead and the task at holding the fort became increasingly difficult as the Smoke Eaters took two more penalties in the third. However they would deny Prince George on both those opportunities, it wasn’t till the Spruce Kings pulled their goaltender and had a delayed penalty coming against them that Prince George finally scored to tie the game at 2 with just 1:27 left in the third. Overtime would solve nothing again despite PG owing a bulk of the chances. So for the second straight night we needed a shootout. and who would have guessed it would go almost exactly the same way.
Quinn Disher was denied on the first shot, Sim Labelle, as he did yesterday followed Disher out of the game and as we was last night, denied by the glove of the Smoke Eater netminder, this time being Fradette.
Following the save and still looking for the first shootout goal Corey Cunningham would step off the bench to face his former teammate.
With Fradette stopping the next shooting in Rheaume, Teddy Lagerback stepped onto the ice, as he did on Friday night with the game on his stick.
The Smoke Eaters for the second night in a row take the game in a shootout over the Spruce Kings and now have the opportunity to sweep the weekend series. Puck drop at 6pm. There’s really no other place to be than at Cominco!
