The Powell River Kings (37-18-1-0) finished up the home portion of their 2016-17 season Saturday night against the Nanaimo Clippers (22-28-5-1) and ended on a high note after a 4-1 win.
Late in the first things boiled over after Kyle Betts took a high cross check from David Eccles after the whistle. Tristan Mullin immediately dropped the gloves and went after Eccles, resulting in both players being tossed for fighting.
In the second, the Kings opened the scoring when Ben Berard was able to fire home a blocked shot past an unsuspecting Austin Roden for his 12th of the year at 6:53.
Early in the third the Kings were able to extend their lead after some excellent forechecking from Carter Turnbull and Betts.
Turnbull chased his man down behind the net and forced him to pass to his defence partner. Betts was all over his man and took the puck away before centring it for Turnbull who one timed home his 25th of the year just 1:24 into the period.
Matt Cairns was jumping up in the play regularly Saturday night, and was finally rewarded 7:43 into the period. He took a pass from Curtis McCarrick while trailing an odd-man rush before wiring a wrist shot into the top corner of the net to make it 3-0.
The gloves came off again mid way through the third after Betts was hit from behind into the boards. Jack Long came in and fought Shawn Guison.
Nanaimo scored their lone goal of the game just over a minute later while shorthanded. Josh Blanchard poked the puck away from Cam Donaldson at the Clippers blue line and tried to break in on Mitch Adamyk.
Donaldson was right with Blanchard the whole way, but as they came in on Adamyk, Donaldson bumped Adamyk which allowed Blanchard to make a nice spinning, no-look shot under the pad to make it 3-1.
The Kings wasted no time getting the three-goal lead back however. Liam Lawson fired the puck from the right wing circle across to McCarrick who ended a 12-game goalless drought with his 12th of the season.
The win was the Kings 22nd in 28 games at the Hap Parker Arena this season. Including the home game at the BCHL Showcase in September, the .810 winning percentage as the home team this season for the Kings ranks third in the league.
The Kings now look towards next weekend when they finish off the 2016-17 season on the Island against the Alberni Valley Bulldogs Saturday and Cowichan Valley Capitals Sunday.
