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Kings split 2 games on the island

After a 3-1 homestand the Kings headed out to the island for a double header vs the Bulldogs and Grizzlies. The Kings came into these games down 4 players due to injury, but that didn't seem to hold them back.

The trip started on Thursday in Port Alberni with a meeting with the Bulldogs. The Kings would face issues before the game even started due to delays on the Island Hwy. The team wouldn't arrive at Weyerhaeuser Arena until 6pm, just 30 min until warmup started. It seemed from the get go the odds were against them, but it ended up being the opposite. They got off to a great start as Nic Porchetta opened the scoring. The dogs would tie it but Mark D'Agostino and Mox Potvin would score 2 unanswered goals to give the Kings a 3-1 lead. The Bulldogs would get one back and the first period ended with the Kings up 3-2. It wasn't a great night to be a goaltender as all 4 played in this game Bulldogs starter Jackson Glassford was pulled after allowing 3 goals on 9 shots and Zak Brice went down with injury in the 1st. Thomas Wardle came in for the Kings while early season standout Hobie Hedquist took the net for the Bulldogs.

The goals kept on coming in the second as the team combined for 8 goals in the middle frame. Hunter Andrew, Max Potvin, Owen Barrow, and Nathan Small would each score in the 2nd for the Kings. The boys had a 7-4 lead at one point but the Bulldogs would get two goals late to end the period down 7-6.

The 3rd was much tighter with just 2 goals scored. Parker LaLonde made it 8-6 on the power play, but like so many times before the Bulldogs fought back and got one with just over 2 minutes left. The Bulldogs would press hard for the equalizer but the defence stood tall when it mattered most as the Kings would go on to win 8-7.

Max Potvin finished with 4 points continuing his dominance with another 2 goal performance, while Ethan Riesterer would add 3 more assists in the win.

Heading into the Q centre on Friday, the Kings would need to step up on D as they looked to shut down a potent Grizzlies offence. To momentum from Thursdays win would be shut down immediately as the Grizzlies would score 3 times in the first 4 minutes to open up a early lead. The Kings would catch a break as with the extra attacker out on the delayed penalty the Grizzlies had a missed pass to the point and the puck went all the way down the ice and into the empty net. Kaleb Nelson would get credit for his 3rd of the season. The Grizzlies would add one more in the period to take a 4-1 lead after 20 minutes.

The Kings would get into some penalty trouble in the 2nd, but the PK was able to withstand the pressure by the Grizzlies powerplay and keep them off the scoreboard. In a period mostly controlled by Victoria the Kings were able to keep the puck out of the net and get rewarded at the end of the period as Hunter Andrew fed Dylan Finlay off a rush as the captain one timed it in and the Kings would only trail 4-2 after two periods.

The Kings would continue to battle in the 3rd but it was the Grizzlies who would extend the lead in the period to 5-2, but like we've seen many times the Kings wouldn't give up as Nathan Small and Anthony Lucarelli would score to put the Kings within one. With the comeback almost complete the Grizzlies would get the last laugh as Jack Gorton would score on a breakaway with 3 minutes left to ice the game as the Grizzlies would win 6-4.

Anthony Lucarelli's 6th goal on the season, tied him for the team lead alongside Mark D'Agostino and Max Potvin and Nolan Krogfoss would extend his point streak to 5 games with an assist.

Through 15 games the Kings sit at 7-7-1 and sit 5th in the coastal conference.

The Kings are set to play in Chilliwack on Nov 24, Vernon on the 26th, and Merritt on the 27th. Although the roads are still closed in the Fraser Valley and Interior, the games have not been postponed at this moment and the team is planning on playing in Chilliwack on Wednesday.