The Cranbrook Bucks are heading back to the drawing board after a difficult Saturday night outing versus the Prince George Spruce Kings.
The first period was not one to write home about for the Cranbrook Bucks. The home team coughed up three power plays to Prince George in the first period, the Spruce Kings were able to tally on one of those power play attempts. Killian McGregor-Bennett also added a goal at 13:51 to lift Prince George to a 2-0 lead. Both teams fired 14 shots in the opening frame, but the Spruce Kings managed to hold Cranbrook off the scoreboard and preserved a 2-0 lead to begin the second period.
Prince George continued their strong play through the second period. The Bucks had their chances in the middle frame, but failed to register any goals despite having three power play attempts. The Spruce Kings added goals from Rowan Miller and Luc Laylin to jump to a 4-0 lead, and that’s where things stood after forty minutes.
The Spruce Kings netted one more goal in the third period to ice the game, team captain Kolton Cousins tallied on a 2-on-1 rush at 13:55 to push Prince George’s lead to 5-0. Cranbrook could muster only 6 shots in the third period, and they were all turned aside by goaltender Aaron Trotter who was able to preserve a 5-0 shutout win to close the double-header.
Cranbrook’s loss bumps them back to fifth place in the Interior Conference at 16-11-2, Prince George vaults back to fourth place with the win while their record improves to 15-9-2-1. Cranbrook’s power play was held off the board, finishing 0/3. Prince George netted two power play goals, and finished 2/5.
The Bucks will return to action at home on Thursday, January 13 to play host to the Wenatchee Wild for the first time this season.
Buck Tracks:
- Bucks lose season series vs Prince George 3-2.
- 3 game point drought for leading scorer Tyson Dyck.
- 1st shutout loss on home ice for Cranbrook.
