Storm - 3 Prince George - 2 (SO)

Sometimes, a final score can really flatter a hockey team.  That was definitely the case for the BCHL's Prince George Spruce Kings on Friday afternoon. 

The Storm badly out-played the Spruce Kings over the first two periods, but a number of squandered scoring chances kept a 2-0 lead from becoming a 4 or 5 goal advantage.  The Spruce Kings took advantage of thaat, and two Storm penalties in the final 10 minutes, to even the game and force it to be decided with the shoot out.  John Girman had the lone goal in the skills competition, giving the Storm their third win in as many games.

The Storm opened the scoring just 3:41 in, as Dan Correale got his stick on a Ben Woodley point shot.  He would add his second of the day 7:39 into the second, as he converted a 2-on-1 opportunity from Jordan Forfar.  Correale almost had his third of the game a short time later, only to see the puck slide through his skates as he was facing a wide open net.  Then late in the second, Taylor Cote had an open net of his own during a two man advantage, only to be robbed by a diving stick save from Spruce Kings netminder Corey Koop.

That seemed to spark Prince George, who slowly built momentum as the third period moved on.  The momentum really accelerated at the 11:07 mark, as Kyle Manlow banged home a power play goal behind Chase Komistek.  It was the first goal the Storm had given up while shorthanded during this pre-season, a streak that included 16 straight penalty kills.  The Storm would take another penalty a short time later, and the Spruce Kings would again take advantage, as Rjay Berra squibbed a weak shot between Komistek's pads to tie the game.

Komistek would make up for it in the shoot out, stopping all five Spruce Kings shooters, while John Girman continued to hold a hot shooting hand, beating Koop with a backhand in the fourth round of shooters. 

Curtis Skip played the first half in goal for the Storm.  And while he was not overly tested, he was sharp nonetheless, and continues to make Mike Vandekamp's decision of which of six goalies to keep a very difficult one. 

FIGHT CARD
Three scraps in the game:
Nick Yeatman (Storm) vs Luke Hannas (Spruce Kings) - More of a wrestling match than a fight.  Few punches landed.  DRAW
Jordan Forfar (Storm) vs Josh Garneau (Spruce Kings) - After he landed a massive open ice hit on Tyson Witalia, Forfar was promptly jumped by Garneau, who landed two shots to the helmet before Forfar knew what was happening.  Forfar was quick to respond and landed a flurry of punches on the Prince George blueliner.  Decision - FORFAR
Cam McWilliam (Storm) vs Tyler Sybil (Spruce Kings) - after being slashed in the back of the legs by Sybil, McWilliam landed one punch that knocked Sybil to the ice, who was able to pull McWilliam down with him and eventually roll on top of him.  Decision - McWILLIAM

NEXT UP
Storm conclude their pre-season schedule Saturday afternoon (4pm Alberta time) by taking on the BCHL's Quesnel Millionaires in Dawson Creek. 

Here is coach Mike Vandekamp's post game thoughts.

GAME SUMMARY

STORM - 3   SPRUCE KINGS - 2  (SHOOT OUT)

1st Period:

1. GP  Correale (Woodley, Cumming)  3:41

Penalties

Neumeier GP (Hooking)  4:47

Blinkhorm PG (slashing)  8:53

Forfar GP (Slashing)  11:12

Desousa PG (cross check)  18:22

2nd Period

2. GP Correale(2) (Forfar)  7:39

Penalties:

Earnest PG (Hooking) 2:17

Cote GP (Double Spearing) 2;26

Kramer GP, Wiebe PG (Roughing After Whistle)  7:03

Bodo PG (Slashing) 8:38

Yeatman GP (Roughing, Fighting, Game Misconduct), Hannas PG (Fighting, Game Misconduct) 11:16

Fillion PG (Slashing) 12:06

Forfar GP, Garneay PG (Fighting, Game Misconduct) 16:09

Phillips GP, Fornwald PG (Misconduct)  16:09

Wiebe PG (High Sticking) 17:02

Spraggs PG (High Sticking) 18:09

3rd Period:

3. PG  Manlow (Spraggs) 11:07 (PP)

4. PG Berra (Manlow) 14:57  (PP)

Penalties:

Sybil PG (Slashing, Fighting, Game Misconduct), McWilliam GP (Fighting, Game Misconduct) 3:30

Kramer GP (Roughing) 9:26

Woodley GP (Cross Checking) 13:12

SHOOT OUT

GP - Mault (Miss), Correale (Save), Fritz (Miss), Gorman (GOAL), Woodley (Save)

PG - Berra (Save), Bodo (Save), Earnest (Save), Spraggs (Save), Polischuk (Save)

GOALIE STATS

GP - Skip (29:22 MP, 0 GA), Komistek W (30:38 MP, 2 GA)

PG - Thompson (31:16 MP, 2 GA), Koop SOL (28:44 MP, 0 GA)