Brody Gagno’s goal at 18:27 of the first period ended up being the difference as the Chilliwack Chiefs edged the Prince George Spruce Kings 2-1 at the RMCA.
In the opening frame, it was Prince George drawing first blood in the opening frame. Points leader Nick Poisson fired the puck past goaltender Mathieu Caron to give PG an early lead.
The Poisson marker came at 3:25. Prince George continued to have several chances, but Caron was sharp. Chilliwack found themselves on the power-play of their own and ended up executing. Peter Reynolds fired home his sixth of the year coming from Brett Willits and Jack Agnew at 17:26. A minute later, it was the Chiefs again who took the lead. A point shot from Gagno found its way through traffic and was centimetres over the goal line to give the Chiefs a 2-1 lead after a period.
In the second, the Spruce Kings had their opportunities to tie the game, but could not execute. PG had a five-on-three power-play for over a minute but the Chief penalty kill came up big and ended up killing it off keeping the Spruce Kings off the scoreboard. The Chiefs remain up 2-1 after 40 minutes.
In the third, more chances for PG, especially late in the third. Mathieu Caron robbed both Nick Poisson and Ryan McAllister on chances in the slot to keep the Chiefs ahead. PG began to press in the dying minutes but ended up taking a goaltender interference penalty with 49 seconds left. That was all she wrote, as the Chiefs edged the Spruce Kings by a 2-1 score.
Next up for the Spruce Kings is an Island road trip beginning Thursday against the Powell River Kings at the Hap Parker Arena in Powell River. You can catch all of the action on 93.1 CFIS FM or on Hockey TV.
3 STARS
- Mathieu Caron (CWK)
- Nick Poisson (PG)
- Brody Gagno (CWK)
FORTIS ENERGY PLAYER: Corey Cunningham (PG)