An impressive showing in Prince George over the weekend has the Cranbrook Bucks on a three-game winning streak after sweeping their two-game set with the Spruce Kings Saturday night.
The Bucks were looking to carry momentum from Friday’s 3-2 win into Saturday’s clash, but first period action was tight on both sides until close to the fifteen-minute barrier. Cranbrook’s leading scorer Jack Silich netted his 16th goal of the season on a scramble deep in the Prince George zone to put the Bucks in a 1-0 lead. The Bucks carried their lead into intermission, they outshot the Spruce Kings 15-11 through the first twenty minutes.
Prince George battled their way back into a tie early in the second period. A goal from Jack Stockfish at 2:31 tied the game 1-1. Following that, Cranbrook flexed their power play muscle to break the tie and then add some insurance. Bucks forward Jarrod Smith lit the lamp on the man advantage at 8:37 to put Cranbrook in a 2-1 lead, Cam Kungle followed with a power play goal of his own to make it a 3-1 lead less than one minute later. Cranbrook’s 3-1 lead held steady through the remainder of second period action.
The Spruce Kings outshot Cranbrook 11-6 in the third period, but Bucks goalie Nathan Airey was in fine form and held all Prince George shooters off the scoresheet. Cranbrook sealed the win with a late empty net goal from Donovan Frias to take a 4-1 win.
Saturday’s victory pushes Cranbrook’s record to 15-8-1, they’re third in the Interior Conference standings. The Bucks outshot Prince George 36-32 in the winning effort. It was a good night for Cranbrook’s special teams, the power play units finished 2/3 while they went 2/2 on the penalty kill.
The Bucks return home for their final four games before the holiday break. They start their homestand Friday versus the West Kelowna Warriors.
Buck Tracks:
- Jarrod Smith nets the game winning goal both nights in Prince George.
- Cam Kungle picks up 16th point of the season, 1 point less than last season’s total.
- Donovan Frias scores his 10th goal of the season.
