A Jonny Evans shot from the point beat the defence, the goaltender and the buzzer at the death in the third period to help propel the Kings to a 4-3 win over the Langley Rivermen on Friday night.
Another game, another tough start for the Kings who fell behind the 8-ball early. Back to back Powell River penalties less than 2 and a half in gave Langley plenty of looks, and the Rivermen took the lead on a powerplay goal through Eric Butte to make it 1-0.
That lead stood until late in the frame when the two teams would begin trading goals at near identical intervals. Hunter Findlater cashed in on the Kings 3rd powerplay of the game for his 13 of the year and a 1-1 game. Then around 90 seconds later the Rivermen took the lead right back through Sean Gulka around the net for a 2-1 advantage. 90 seconds after that, the Kings broke in on a two on one with Jonny Evans and AP forward Christian Buono. Evans held and looked to centre to Buono, but in doing so banking it off the defenceman’s stick and in behind the goaltender for his 15th of the year and a 2-2 score through 20. Shots 15-13 after 1.
Into the 2nd and the Rivermen controlled much of the play. Several chances were turned aside from Mitch Adamyk as the Kings bent, and bent many times but did not break. Outshot 16-2 in the period but still level at 2.
The third period the Kings came out strong and took the game back over. However it was the Rivermen to score first through Devin Leduc midway through. But much like the first period, it took the Kings around 90 seconds to respond, this time through Carmine Buono making a smart pinch up along the half wall to bury a kicked out puck into a yawning cage for his 5th of the year and a 3-3 tie.
Overtime look destined for two teams who had been to the extra session a combined 24 times this season, however a late powerplay gave the Kings life. With 8 seconds remaining in the game and 5 left in the powerplay the Kings worked it around, got it to Andy Stevens who fired over to Jonny Evans to one-time it underneath the cross bar, his 2nd of the game, 16th of the season and the puck landing on the ice in the back of the net as the buzzer went for a 4-3 Kings win.
Mitch Adamyk stopped 38/41 in net for his 14th win of the year as the Kings improve to a record of 22-13-4-4. With Nanaimo losing in regulation, and Victoria falling in overtime, the Kings close the gap to the Grizzlies to 2 points with a game in hand, while extending their lead over Nanaimo to 3 points with two games in hand. Both teams are travelling in three-in-threes this weekend.
Here’s our Facebook Live postgame show with Brock Sawyer:
Three Stars of the Game
1. Jonny Evans (Kings) – 2 goals
2. Sean Gulka (Rivermen) – 1 goal
3. Mitch Adamyk (Kings) – 38 saves, 14th win
The Kings continue their 5-game road swing in Merritt on Saturday night, a 7:00pm puck drop for the first game this season against the Centennials. Pre-game on 95.7 CoastFM and HockeyTV at 6:40pm.
