Papineau plays OT Hero

Nicolas Papineau scored a pair of goals including the overtime winner in a 4-3 victory over the Alberni Valley Bulldogs on Friday night at Kopar Memorial Arena.

The Spruce Kings got on the board first as Brock Cummings fired a shot on goal that directed twice on the way to the net and went past Colin Winn.

Alberni Valley responded at 11:21 as Lenny Greenberg’s one-timer was fanned on but still found its way past Dylan Johnson to tie the game.

The Bulldogs took the lead in the final second of the first period as Caden Tremblay fired one from the side boards to take a 2-1 lead into the intermission.

The second period saw a pair of markers from the Spruce Kings as Brady Anes scored his second of the season driving to the net and putting one past Winn, before Papineau scored his first of the game on a shot from the right circle.

Early in the third period, Cole Bishop found the short side to tie the game up at three. There was multiple power play opportunities but no more goals in regulation.

In overtime, the Spruce Kings failed on a power play chance, but Papineau stole the puck at the Spruce Kings line and went in on a breakaway and ended up getting the puck to slide over the line to pick up the victory.

Next up: Spruce Kings take on the Bulldogs on Saturday at 6:00 pm for Indigenous Night presented by Four Rivers Co op. Tickets available at https://bit.ly/IndigenousNight01-11