The Powell River Kings scored a pair of goals 19 seconds apart in the 1st period, and a pair of empty netters in the third to secure a 4-1 win in Salmon Arm on Sunday afternoon and a weekend sweep of their abbreviated 2-game road trip.
The Kings came out pressing early in the first period but were unable to break the deadlock until the final minute of the frame. The Kings held possession in the offensive zone on a powerplay when Carter Turnbull was fed in the high slot and given the time to fire home his 11th of the season and the Kings a 1-0 lead.
Then not long off the ensuing faceoff, Neal Samanski created a partial break down the ice that turned into a 2-on-1 when Williams join. Samanski drew a Silverback player to him and got the pass over to Williams for him to tap in his 5th of the year and a 2-0 advantage. The goals came 19 seconds apart in the first period as the Kings skated to a 2-0 advantage through 20. Shots 16-6 Kings.
The Silverbacks got on the board in the second period via a nice shot from Rhett Kingston to beat Matteo Paler-Chow, however the Kings held the lead through 40 by outshooting the Silverbacks 15-12 in the period. The second period was highlighted by a couple of nasty hits. After a first period blow to the head on Trent Bell that saw him leave the game and not return, the Silverbacks connected with a pair of Kings in dangerous fashion in the 2nd. First, Gavin Rauser was on the receiving end of a check from behind, then Kyle Kawamura was hit in the head later in the frame. Both players returned to action after being checked out by Kings training staff.
Into the third and the Silverbacks continued to push as both goaltenders made nice saves to keep the game tight. The Silverbacks rolled the dice with about 2 minutes remaining by pulling Ryan Dumba for the extra attacker, however it was the Kings to score. First Gavin Rauser from the left wing at centre potting his 7th of the season, 2nd of the weekend and 3rd empty netter for a 3-1 advantage. Then with 55 seconds remaining off a defensive zone faceoff, affiliate Ethan Jones got a hard rim from Andy Stevens on the right wing, got through traffic and notched his first BCHL goal into the open cage for a 4-1 win.
Matteo Paler-Chow picked up his fourth win in net with 25 saves and 3rd star honours.
Three Stars of the Game
1. Kevin Obssuth (Kings)
2. Ryan Dumba (Silverbacks) – 42 saves
3. Matteo Paler-Chow (Kings) – 25 saves, 4th win
The win moves the Kings to a record of 12-4-1-1 and 1st place in the Island Division. The team is 3 clear of the Grizzlies with 3 games in hand. The Kings head to Vancouver Island next weekend to face the Nanaimo Clippers, Victoria Grizzlies and Cowichan Valley Capitals in the season’s first Island 3-in-3 of the regular season. All three games will be live on 95.7 CoastFM and HockeyTV beginning 20 minutes prior to faceoff each night.
