A three point night for defenceman Carmine Buono has helped the Kings to a 5-3 win over the Trail Smoke Eaters at the Hap Parker Arena on Friday night.
The Kings got off to a dream start with two goals inside five minutes as the Smokies looked slow and sluggish despite a good night’s sleep in Powell River Thursday night and a pre-game skate on Friday morning. The Kings came out the better team and earned a 2-0 lead through a Ben Berard snipe and some Jonny Evans stick handling that teed up Gavin Rauser in front.
Credit Trail for coming back into the game and bring the game to the Kings in the latter stages of the first period. The opening 10 were all Powell River, however the second ten was more balanced in the first period with Trail scoring midway through for a 2-1 Kings lead through 20.
The Kings again came out the better team in the second period to start and got the early goal on the powerplay from Carmine Buono. Patience with the puck and good movement opened up a shot for Buono to find a hole on goaltender Wells for his 3rd of the season and a two goal lead.
Breakdowns in the second will compound with two Trail goals within 40 seconds of the second period to tie the game at 3. A nice tip in front from Kevin Obssuth on a Buono point shot gave the Kings a go ahead goal, one that’d eventually stand up as the game winner when it was all said and done.
Very much a “bend but not break” period in the third for both teams. Powell River trying to put the nail in the coffin, and Trail looking to tie the game. Both teams had chances on the powerplay and good looks even strength but weren’t able to cash in. Trail rolled the dice with the empty net for 90 seconds at the end but two clears from Buono and an empty netter from Rauser at the buzzer gave the Kings a 5-3 win for their 6th victory of the season.
Carmine Buono registers his 4th career three point night. All three previous had been three assist efforts, and all three against the Victoria Grizzlies. Buono had 3 assists in a single game three times against Victoria in the 2014/2015 season…twice in the regular season (back to back) and once in the playoffs.
Mitch Adamyk was excellent, particularly late. He battled the puck a little through the first 30 minutes but turned the corner in the back half of the game and made every save that he had to. 30/33 for his 4th win of the season and fully deserving of the victory.
Credit the 6 players who skated against the trio of Howarth, Armour and Glasman tonight. Buono, Stevens and Raffler did the duties on the back end while Obssuth, Kimball and Turnbull got a lot of the assignment up front. One breakdown on a nice passing and rushing play down the ice in the 2nd period, but otherwise to keep those three players as quiet as they were went a lot to winning the game.
Watch our live postgame show on Facebook Live with Carmine Buono and Brock Sawyer after the game. Click here to watch the video.
Three Stars of the Game
1. Carmine Buono (Kings) – 1 goal, 2 assists
2. Jonny Evans (Kings) – 2 assists
3. Spencer McLean (Trail) – 1 goal
The Kings improve to a record of 6-1-0-1 and end a three game home stand on Saturday night at the Hap Parker Arena against the Wenatchee Wild. It’s a 7:15pm start.
