Spruce Kings Surprise Chiefs in Playoff Opener
Friday, March 15, 2013 @ 9:56 PM
Prince George, B.C. – The Prince George Spruce Kings rode the red-hot goaltending of Kirk Thompson to an upset 3-1 victory over the Chilliwack Chiefs Friday night in the opening game of their Mainland Division semi-final series.
Playing at the Prospera Centre in Chilliwack, the advantage in game one of the best-of-five set was definitely given to the hometown Chiefs, based on their 6-2-0 and 0 regular season record against the Kings. However, Prince George won the final two of those eight games, and both wins came in Chilliwack. And Friday night showed that come the playoffs, it’s a whole new season.
The clubs went scoreless through the opening period in which the Chiefs outshot the Kings by a wide margin, 18-5. But time and again, Thompson was there to make incredible saves and stymie the Chiefs. No penalties in that first period.
The second frame was a repeat of the first, with Thompson standing on his head to keep Chilliwack off the score sheet. Things got rough in that period with a couple of fights, and a couple of misconducts to Spruce Kings Mitch Eden and Jace Hennig. Chilliwack held a 16-6 edge in shots, but it was Cameron Lawson of the Kings scoring the lone goal of the period, on the power play, at 16:43.
Coltyn Hansen made it 2-0 at 6:38 of the third on a broken play, with Hansen picking up the puck and racing it to fire it through Mitch Gillam in the Chiefs’ net. The Chiefs pulled Gillam with about 90 seconds left on the clock and Hansen fired the puck from his own blue line into the gaping net to make it 3-nothing. Mathieu Tibbet scored for the Chiefs at 19:56 to ruin the shutout bid of Thompson, who was deservedly named the game’s first star.
Chilliwack outshot Prince George 44-20 on the contest.
Game two goes Saturday night, again in Chilliwack. Game 3 is at the Coliseum Monday night, as is game four, if necessary, on Tuesday.
In the other Mainland semi, Surrey beat Langley 2-0 to take a 1-0 series lead.
Comments
Nice start boys…. keep it up
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