Prince George, B.C. – The Prince George Spruce Kings displayed the grit they’re going to need in the BCHL playoffs in a battle with the Smoke Eaters in Trail Saturday night.

The Spruce Kings refused to fold, coming back from a 3-1 deficit to edged the Smoke Eaters 4-3 in double overtime. Trail held a 1-0 lead after one period as Garrett McMullen scored on the power play at 13:13 of the opening frame. McMullen put the Smokies up 2-0 at 1:16 of the second before Jarryd Ten Vaanholt got the Kings on the board with a power play goal at 3:32. Brent Baltus made it 3-1 Trail at the 8:08 mark but Michael Colantone got the Kings to within one with a shorthanded goal at 16:41. That’s the way the second ended, Trail holding a 3-2 lead. The lone goal of the third was scored by Gerry Fitzgerald on the power play at 11:57.   That set the stage for overtime. Nothing in the first extra period. And then Myles Fitzgerald assisted by brother Leo notched the winner at 1:15 of the second overtime frame. 

Leo had two assists on the night as did Jujhar Khaira and Ben Matthews. The Spruce Kings outshot Trail 39-33 and with the victory the Kings can still say they haven’t dropped a game to the Smoke Eaters this season.

Prince George moves into a second-place tie with Merritt at 70 points. The Chilliwack Chiefs are in fourth place with 64 points after losing 5-1 to Penticton.

The Spruce Kings, who beat Trail 6-1 Friday night, can wrap up a perfect road trip with a victory in Vernon Sunday afternoon.