Photo Credit: Tim Matwey
Home sweet home.
The Cranbrook Bucks fed off a rambunctious crowd at Western Financial Place for the second night in a row on Tuesday, and they scored a 5-3 win in game four of their first round playoff series versus the Prince George Spruce Kings to tie the best-of-seven at 2-2.
The Bucks were prepared for a physical Prince George team to start the first period. The Spruce Kings were finishing their checks, but Cranbrook wasn’t backing down and they were rewarded with an offensive flurry halfway through the period. Jaden Fodchuck opened the scoring at 10:01 with a great solo effort. Cranbrook extended their lead to 2-0 thirty-six seconds later with a Brendan Rogers breakaway goal. The Bucks outshot Prince George 11-5 in the opening frame, and they carried a 2-0 lead into the second period.
Business picked up on both sides of the ice in the second period. Prince George quickly tied the game in the first minute when Luke Laylin exploded for two goals in seven seconds. Cranbrook managed to retake the lead via a Bauer Morrissey goal at 6:12, making it a 3-2 game. Prince George managed to tie the game halfway through the period on the power play with a Simon Labelle marker. The Bucks answered with a power play goal of their own toward the end of the period, Johnny Johnson picked up his first goal of the playoffs to give his Bucks a 4-3 lead to take to the final frame.
Neither team could keep the fire power coming in the third period, as the game shifted to more of a defensive battle. The Spruce Kings had their share of chances, but couldn’t beat Nathan Airey in the Cranbrook net. Tyson Dyck scored an empty net goal in the final minute to secure Cranbrook’s 5-3 win.
Tuesday’s game four victory vaults Cranbrook into a 2-2 series tie with Prince George. The Bucks outshot Prince George 29-24, they cashed in on two of four power play chances while the Spruce Kings finished 1/3 with the man-advantage.
The series is tied 2-2, game five is set for Thursday in Prince George.
Buck Tracks:
- 2 assists for Liam Hanssen in his return to the lineup.
- Cranbrook’s first two goals came 36 seconds apart, Prince George’s first two goals were 7 seconds apart.
- 1 assist for Zeth Kindrachuk (3 points through series).
