The Warriors got the start they wanted, but couldn’t maintain the pressure as they fell 4-1 in Prince George on Thursday night.
For the first ten minutes of play, it seemed like the Tribe would power to victory – with shots on goal favouring Westside 9-1 at one point. Reid Simmonds opened the scoring for the visitors when he beat Kirk Thompson with a wonderful snap-shot eight minutes into the game.
But the Spruce Kings would steadily improve as the game wore on, and eventually take over.
Prince George would even the score five minutes after Simmonds’ goal with a powerplay marker from Michael Colantone. The Arizona product would give the home team the lead with another powerplay tally late in the second, and then complete the hat-trick with an even-strength goal late in the game. Captain Ben Matthews chipped in Prince George’s other goal early in the third.
Prince George would end the night 2/4 on the powerplay, while Westside had no luck on three opportunities.
Shots also favoured the Spruce Kings 35-27, although Kirk Thompson made several incredible saves in the PG net.
“We’re successful when we get pucks in deep and play simple” mused Westside forward Brett McKinnon after the game. “We got away from that, and it hurt us.”
The Warriors now sit 12 points out of a playoff spot, with 25 games remaining on the season. They will look for revenge on Friday night at the P.G. Coliseum.
“We’ve got to be better on special teams” McKinnon stresses of the rematch.
Find out more on the Westside Warriors, including links to the online broadcasts, at The General’s Report.
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