The Powell River Kings turned it on in the third period, but weren’t able to overcome a three goal deficit, falling 4-3 to the Penticton Vees on Friday night at the Hap Parker Arena.
The Vees came out firing early in the first period, testing Mitch Adamyk early and often and opening up a 7-0 shots advantage before Powell River first troubled Jack LaFontaine. Penticton would open the scoring midway through as Cole Shepard converted on a 2-on-1 past Adamyk for the 1-0 lead that held through 20.
Penticton doubled their lead midway through the 2nd as Ryan Sandelin beat Adamyk on a powerplay tally for a 2-0 score before the Kings found some life. Levi Glasman skating down the left side and connecting on a laser as he cut in, his 19th and a 2-1 game. Penticton would restore, and add to their 2 goal lead with a pair of goals five minutes apart. First, Brendan Harrogate buried, then David Silye got sprung on partial shorthanded break after a tough bounce off the stick of Jayden Lee, his 12th and a 4-1 lead for the visitors through 40.
Powell River were dominant in stretches through the third and played a textbook game of chipping away at the lead. Four minutes in Rowan Miller pounced on a puck in the paint following a nice move and shot from Ethan Kimball, his 7th and a 4-2 game. Seven minutes later, the Kings clawed back to within a goal thanks to a beautiful individual effort from Ryan Brushett who turned the Penticton defence inside out, then rifling into the low slot for former Vee Matthew Byrne to redirect home, his 3rd of the year and a 4-3 game.
But that’s as close as the Kings would get as the Kings failed to find an equalizer with Ben Thomas coming the closest, only to be denied by a nice cross crease save. 4-3 the final as the Kings 3-game win streak is snapped.
Kyle Bodie stepped into the post game show for Brock Sawyer who is on a scouting assignment.
The Kings continue their weekend by hosting the Surrey Eagles at the Hap Parker Arena on Saturday night, a 7:00pm start.
