The 91原创 91原创 worked double overtime two nights in a row, in a pair of hard-fought road losses to the Prince George Spruce Kings last weekend.
The Spruce Kings tripped up the 91原创 4-3 in double OT Friday at Rolling Mix Concrete Arena in Prince George.
On Saturday, the 91原创 once again earned a single point in a 2-1 double OT loss to the host Spruce Kings.
鈥淭hey competed hard,鈥� 91原创 head coach Bobby Henderson said. 鈥淭hey had to come-from-behind the first night but managed to work their way back into it, there, to get a point.鈥�
Even with the two losses, the 91原创 came away with two points and continue to lead the BCHL鈥檚 Mainland Division with a 10-3-8 record going into tonight鈥檚 (Nov. 7) home game against the Vernon Vipers.
A positive takeaway from the weekend is that the 91原创 managed to take both games into overtime, and have only suffered three regulation losses more than a third of the way into the regular season.
鈥淚 think we鈥檝e been playing some great hockey,鈥� Henderson said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a tough trip going up there, a tough place to play in a small rink and they (the Spruce Kings) are accustomed to playing there.鈥�
Playing in close contests has become second nature for the 91原创. Going into tonight鈥檚 contest, their goal differential is a plus-three (67 goals for, 64 against).
鈥淲e鈥檙e a defensive-minded team for sure,鈥� Henderson said, 鈥渂ut we鈥檙e a team that鈥檚 set to break out offensively. We鈥檙e getting pretty good production, but we haven鈥檛 had all four lines produce (at the same time) yet. It鈥檚 just a matter of time. I see flashes of it, it鈥檚 a matter of seeing it consistently.鈥�
Brar bites 91原创 in OT
On Saturday, Prince George鈥檚 Ben Brar scored the winner 41 seconds into the three-on-three second overtime period.
91原创鈥檚 Trevor St. Jean opened the scoring 5:46 into the opening period, and the visitors held onto their 1-0 lead until the 7:37 mark of the final frame.
That鈥檚 when Ben Poisson tied the score on a Spruce Kings power play.
The game remained scoreless the rest of the way, leading up to Brar鈥檚 game-winner.
Both goaltenders had strong games, with Prince George鈥檚 Evan DeBrouwer stopping 33 of 34 shots and the 91原创鈥檚 Chad Cromar making 31 saves. They were named first, and second stars of the game, respectively.
Comeback earns point
On Friday, the 91原创 erased a 3-1 deficit with goals 21 seconds apart at the midway point of the third period, only to lose in the second overtime period.
Poisson found the net 2:48 into double OT to lift the Spruce Kings to victory.
The 91原创 showed some moxy in the third frame by battling back from two goals down, with captain Brendan Budy and defenceman Derek Hamelin (with his first of the campaign) scoring to tie the game at 3-3.
Angus Crookshank scored a first-period goal for the 91原创, who trailed 2-1 after 20 minutes.
The Spruce Kings scored the only goal of the second stanza.
The 91原创 will look to earn the full two points tonight (Tuesday) against the Vipers at the George Preston Recreation Centre.
Opening puck drop is 7 p.m.
91原创 then plays a home-and-home weekend series with the Chilliwack Chiefs, with the teams meeting Friday in Chilliwack and again Saturday (Nov. 11) at the GPRC. Both of those games get underway at 7 p.m.
