It is game over for the Langley Rivermen.
The junior A hockey club fell 3-2 in game six in Prince George, losing the BCHL Mainland Division semifinal series four games to two on Tuesday night.
The series was tied at two games apiece heading into Monday night’s game five at the Langley Events Centre, which saw Prince George prevail 5-4 in overtime on a power-play goal from captain Chad Staley.
Looking to force a deciding game in the series, the Rivermen jumped out to a 1-0 lead in game six with Ben Butcher opening the scoring on a power play.
But Brogan O’Brien would scored twice for Prince George in less than two minutes to give the home side the lead for good.
Braiden Epp made the score 3-1 in the second period. Jake Kearley did get the Rivermen within a goal, but there was just 1:18 remaining for Langley to try and force overtime.
Langley outshot Prince George 30-24 in the game, a familiar theme throughout the series as the Rivermen had the shot advantage in all six games. But Spruce Kings goaltender Jesse Jenks was up to the task, posting a 2.45 goals against average and a .918 save percentage.
The series was very evenly matched as both teams scored 16 goals, including five on the power play, and one empty-net goal apiece.
And in three of the four Langley defeats, the game was tied in the third period.
Game one saw Prince George break a scoreless tie with just over a minute to go, while in game three, the Spruce Kings struck twice — including an empty netter — in the final 2:27 to break a 2-2 tie.
And the backbreaker may have been the pivotal game five where twice Langley took one-goal leads in the final 20 minutes only to see Prince George tie it up both times and then win it in overtime.
What didn’t help Langley in the series was the fact they were missing two of their top three offensive players for the final three games, with both Marcus Vela and Gage Torrel out since game four.
Prince George plays Chilliwack in the Mainland Division finals.