Powerplay clicks as Cents fall to Spruce Kings

The Merritt Centennials found some powerplay success on Friday night, but still fell to the Spruce Kings 6-3 in Prince George.

The contest didn’t start well for Merritt who were outshot 20-9 in the opening frame, and outscored 2-0. Just before the 10-minute mark of the game, Austin Fraser worked his way to the slot of a faceoff win and sniped past Bradyen Melynk to open the scoring. A powerplay marker from Rowan Miller made it 2-0 after 20.

The second started with a bang for the Cents as Talon Zakall bulged the twine with the extra-man, assists coming from Jerzy Orchard, and Walker Erickson.

PG would add two more in the second from Nick Rheaume and Ty Gagno to lead 4-1 heading to the third.

In the third, Merritt attempted to blaze the comeback trail, with both Jerzy Orchard and Henry Smith scoring on the powerplay which finished 3/7 on the night, to make it 4-3.

Unfortunately that’s as close as they would come as PG would add two more, making the final 6-3.

Melynk would stop 38/44 in the contest.

The Cents are back in action Saturday night for a rematch versus the Spruce Kings.