The Prince George Spruce Kings moved just one point back of Merritt for second place in the BCHL Interior Division picking up a crucial four points from the Trail Smoke Eaters on the weekend.
After a 4-1 loss on Friday, the Smokies were looking for a split Saturday night. The team started off on a positive note, when Brent Baltus banged in a rebound from an Erik Cooper shot at 4:13 of the first.
The Smokies were able to hold league-leading scorer Paul De Jersey and his line in check most of the night but, as on Friday, the Fitzgerald brothers picked up the slack, with Gerry netting a pair and Myles a single, while Leo pitched in with a helper as the Spruce Kings counted three goals by the end of the period to go up 3-1 outshooting Trail 19-6 in the process.
The Smoke Eaters turned it around in the second, edging Prince George in shots 11-10 but despite a good forecheck and some quality scoring chances, the orange and black were unable to capitalize.
Just 21 seconds into the third, Ryley McDougall jumped on a giveaway in the Spruce Kings end and ripped a shot over the shoulder of P. G. goalie Ty Swabb to trim the lead to 3-2, . But Jujhar Khaira scored the insurance goal for the Spruce Kings seven minutes later, tripping up the Smokie D-man, stealing the puck and firing it past Stanwood, much to the displeasure of the over 700 faithful at the game and coack Bill Birks.
The Prince George team is a much bigger team with former Smokie Ben Mathews anchoring a solid and towering defensive core. The Spruce Kings also enjoy some of the most talented offensive weapons in the league.
Trail goalie Lyndon Stanwood had little chance on any of the four goals, stopping 36 shots and being named the second star of the night for his efforts while Swabb stopped 24 of 26 shots in the Prince George net.
The Smoke Eaters next home game goes Thursday when they take on the Westside Warriors at the Cominco Arena at 7:30 p.m.
The Prince George team is a much bigger team with former Smokie Ben Mathews anchoring a solid and towering defensive core. The Spruce Kings also enjoy some of the most talented offensive weapons in the league.
Trail goalie Lyndon Stanwood had little chance on any of the four goals, stopping 36 shots and being named the second star of the night for his efforts while Swabb stopped 24 of 26 shots in the Prince George net.
The Smoke Eaters next home game goes Thursday when they take on the Westside Warriors at the Cominco Arena at 7:30 p.m.
