Photo by: Damon James
The Powell River Kings weathered the Wenatchee Wild Storm in the third period before scoring in overtime for a 5-4 come from behind win at the BCHL Showcase in Chilliwack Friday afternoon.
The scoring started when the Wild threw the puck at Brian Wilson from the point. Wilson made the save, but the rebound was chipped into the net by AJ Vanderbeck standing on the goal line.
Just seconds later, the Wild struck again as right off a face-off Matthew Baker let go a slap shot from the high slot, being Wilson blocker side for a power play goal just three seconds after the man advantage started.
The Kings answered quickly as a flurry of goals came. Carter Turnbull carried the puck into the Wild zone on the right side, then used the defenceman as a screen and fired a shot past the glove of Garrett Nieto to cut the lead to 2-1.
Seven seconds after the goal the Kings were awarded a power play, but it was the Wild taking advantage. After killing off some time in the Kings end, Brian Williams carried the puck to the net from the right side of the ice. He sent a cross ice pass to Brendan Harris to knocked home a shorthanded goal to restore the Wild’s two-goal lead.
Once again, the Kings answered quickly. While on the same power play, Kyle Betts was near the goal line in the left-wing corner. He spotted Tristan Mullin parked on the other side of the net and sent the pass to him for Mullin to fire home his second goal of the season to cut it to 3-2.
The second period featured just one goal which came when Mullin and Curtis McCarrick had a two on one rush. From the left wing, Mullin sent the pass to McCarrick who had an open net to find his first goal of the season and tie the game at three heading into the third.
The Wild controlled play for the majority of the third period, but Wilson came up with save after save to keep the game tied at three.
Another two on one rush led to the Kings taking their first lead of the game. Cam Donaldson took the puck after Brandon Kennedy chipped it into the Wild end, and skated down the left wing. He threw the puck across the ice for Johnny Evans who snapped home his second of the year to give the Kings the lead with 3:55 remaining.
The Wild came back however and Dakota Raabe found himself alone on the far side of the net, took a pass from Harris and tied the game with 1:37 remaining.
In overtime, the game-winning sequence started with a great save from Wilson. Colin Burston powered his way to the Kings goal from the right-wing side but couldn’t tuck the puck past an outstretched Wilson.
The Kings regained the puck and Betts started out of his own zone. A Wenatchee defender at centre tripped and Betts took advantage may flying in on a breakaway, beating Nieto through the five hole to score his first goal of the season and win the game.
The final shots on goal read 50-24 in favour of the Wild as Wilson finished with a staggering 46 saves.
The Kings wrap-up their Showcase when they act as the road team for Saturday afternoons game against the Trail Smoke Eaters at 1:00.
