A fluky pinball goal off skates and in the back of the net inside the opening minute helped propel the Kings to a 5-2 win over the Coquitlam Express on Friday night at the Hap Parker Arena.
An interesting start for the Kings. The first shift of the game the Kings go in on the forecheck and force a bit of a mess from Coquitlam behind their own goal. The Express goaltender, Tyger Howat, plays the puck to the side of the goal but as he’s getting back in the puck pinballs off some legs, maybe a stick and winds up in the back of the net. Tristan Mullin gets credit on it, however he said after the game he thought maybe Lawson buried it. Either way the perfect start and a 1-0 advantage.
More in the first period with a late powerplay chance cashed in by Nick Halagian in front, getting a good tip up and over Howat from a Jonny Evans worm burner and it’s 2-0 on Halagian’s 11th of the season. The tip was textbook and really gave Howat no shot on it. Shots favoured the Kings 17-9 through 20.
Into the 2nd and an even period destined to be scoreless was broken open, this time through Jonny Evans who was nicely set up by Nick Nonis. Nonis skated through middle towards the end of a shift and he’d be fine dumping to the corner and peeling off, letting Evans and the forwards forecheck. However as he crossed the blue line he made a nice play on a flick to Evans with the Express defence backing off, then Evans did the rest with a backhand drive to the net and a good move to beat the goaltender, 3-0.
Coquitlam got that one back almost immediately with Taylor Green scoring from the left point through a crowd in front and deflecting past Smith.
The Express got themselves in some penalty trouble at the end of the second period, bleeding into the third and the Kings capitalised with Turnbull’s goal capping a pretty passing play and put the game further in Powell River control. The Kings would add a 5th midway through as Tristan Mullin converted a Nick Nonis point shot and a 5-1 lead. Coquitlam pushed hard in the latter stages of the third, scoring once and threatening further but the Kings hold on for the team’s 27th win of the season. Jeff Smith kicks out 29 for his 20th win of the year.
Three Stars of the Game
- Tristan Mullin (Kings) – 2 goals, 1 assist
- Jonny Evans (Kings) – 1 goal, 1 assist, game winner
- Nick Nonis (Kings) – 2 assists
The Kings got some help out of town as well with both Nanaimo and Cowichan losing in regulation on Friday night meaning the Kings close the gap to 1st place Nanaimo to 10 points with three in hand. The Kings hold onto 2nd spot by a gap of now 6 points, however 3rd place Cowichan have a game in hand.
Powell River continues a 9-game home stand on Saturday night, hosting West Kelowna at 7:15pm.
