The Powell River Kings (20-12-1-0) wrapped up a three-game road trip at the Cominco Arena in Trail Sunday afternoon, coming out on the wrong side of a 5-1 score against the Smoke Eaters (16-14-1-0).
A first-period flurry by the Smoke Eaters saw them leading in the shot department by a margin of 19-6, but the game remained scoreless through the opening 20.
Trail opened the scoring near the half way mark of the second period. Josh Laframboise carried the puck down the left wing on a two-on-one rush and fired a wrist shot over the blocker of Brian Wilson.
The Kings had a great chance to tie the game after Trail turned the puck over in the slot of their own zone. Cam Donaldson ripped a shot off the crossbar that went straight down and was sitting in the crease, but was cleared away by the Smoke Eaters.
Not long afterwards Trail extended their lead. Another two-on-one rush saw Blaine Caton come down the right wing before lifting a backhand shot over Wilson’s blocker.
Late in the second the Kings got on the board on a power play. Just 14 seconds into the man advantage, Josh Coblenz and Curtis McCarrick played give and go from the goal line to the slot and Colbenz jammed the puck on goal. Ben Berard knocked home the loose puck for his fifth of the year to make it 2-1 with two minutes left.
Just 48 seconds later Trail restored their two-goal lead. Another odd-man rush, this time a two-on-oh, had Ryan Murphy throw the puck to the left wing for Connor Brown-Maloski to make it 3-1 heading into the third.
Trail added a pair of goals in the final frame, a one timer from the point by Kyle Chernenkoff and another two-on-one rush for Laframboise, as they went on to win 5-1.
With the loss, this is the first time since October 8 and 9 the Kings have dropped back to back games in regulation.
After a week of practice the Kings will welcome the Alberni Valley Bulldogs (10-16-4-1) to The Hap for a double header Friday and Saturday night.
