It was not a pretty game as both the Aldergrove Kodiaks and the Mission Icebreakers showed signs of time away from the ice over the Christmas break.
However, as narrow and sloppy a win as it was, Kodiaks GM Rick Harkins was content to take it and maintain the team's lead in the division.
Mission is stalled at the bottom of the division with three wins and nine points, but they opened the scoring on Jan. 4 at Aldergrove Arena at 4:45 in the first period, and they also matched the Kodiaks with 41 shots on goal apiece.
The Kodiaks took two goals in the first to take the lead at 2-1 going into the second. The goals were scored at 5:57 by Robert Genge from Taylor Christopher and Jordan Pughe and at 14:33 on a power play by Pughe from Robert Jang and Colton Precourt.
The Icebreakers responded at 1:20 in the second to even it up, by the Kodiaks retained the lead at 14:30, scored by Ryan Veillet from Thomas Hardy and Precourt.
The Icebreakers matched it again in the third at 1:12 but pughe pulled out another goal at 13:43, assisted by Robert Genge and Ryan Procyshyn to end the game at 4-3 for the Kodiaks.
Pughe earned first star and Genge second star.
The Kodiaks are now sitting at 42 points after 29 games (20-7-1-1).