Ryan Brushett notched his 2nd hattrick in the BCHL, and first for Powell River as the Kings got past a plucky Cowichan team 6-5 in overtime on Friday night at the Hap.
A great start to the game for the Capitals who scored inside the opening 2 minutes on a point shot from Doug Scott and a 1-0 lead that stood through 20 minutes, with the Kings outshooting the Capitals 11-9.
The second saw the game take a bit of a see-saw turn. Powell River benefitted from time on the powerplay, with Kyle Kawamura cashing in on a play along the goal line from Mitch Williams, who served over to Kawamura for his 4th of the season and a 1-1 game. However 28 seconds later, Cowichan would retake the one goal lead on another point shot, this time to Timber Lewis.
Midway through, Ryan Brushett got on the scoreboard, again on the powerplay as the Kings went 2/2 with Christian Buono finding Brushett on the faceoff dot, with Brushett letting go a quick wrist shot for his team-leading 16th goal of the season and a 2-2 score. But much like earlier in the game, the Caps came straight back. This time is was 1:07 later when Luc Wilson beat Matteo Paler-Chow, making his first start of the season, for a 3-2 Cowichan advantage.
The final goal of the game came through Ethan Kimball who picked up a puck on right wing after a faceoff and sniped from the faceoff dot, his 1st of the season and a 3-3 score through 40. Shots 19-8 in the period for the Kings, with a 30-17 advantage overall.
The Kings took their first lead of the game early in the third period, with Ryan Brushett threading the needle to Christian Buono who was left all alone, his 6th of the year coming on the powerplay and a 4-3 Kings lead. Almost 5 minutes would pass, but Cowichan would again respond through Olivier Gauthier and the game was tied at 4. Destined for overtime, Ryan Brushett found his 2nd of the game and 3rd point of the night with under 3 minutes remaining after Levi Glasman’s shot was blocked, Brushett picked up a puck in the slot and went in and out on the backhand for his 17th of the year and a 5-4 lead.
But much like the game, Cowichan would respond quickly. 46 seconds later, Paul Selleck tipped home on a Capitals powerplay and it was tied at 5 through 60. Shots 39-25 Powell River. Just the one shot in overtime, but it would count as a chance to the side of the net spilled wide and Mitch Williams and Ryan Brushett skated 2-on-2 down the left wing. A drive to the net from Williams generated a big rebound in the slot that Brushett buried into the open net, the hattrick goal and the game winner, giving the Kings their first win in overtime this season, and second after 60 minutes….6-5 over the Capitals.
Matteo Paler-Chow stopped 20 in the win, his first game in over 230 days recovering from a lower body injury during the summer.
The Kings continue a weekend set against the Capitals, with a 5:00pm puck drop on Saturday night at the Hap Parker Arena.
