Hunter Findlater scored a pair and the Kings notched three goals in 1:43 in the third period for a 6-4 come from behind victory on Sunday afternoon in Trail against the Smoke Eaters.
- A real solid jump giving it was the third leg in as many days and a fair amount of travel lumped in there. The Kings were the better team early and were rewarded with the first goal for the third straight game as Hunter Findlater used two of his strongest assests, his speed and a quick release to latch onto a Trail turnover from a weird bounce off the boards. 1-0.
- Back to back Trail goals had the home team take the lead until Nick Halagian gets a real fortunate one to slid through the wickets of Bailey MacBurnie. I called it a ‘muffin’ on air and that’s exactly what it was. A weak backhand from the high slot. 2-2 through 20.
- Trail scored the only one in the second as the Kings deviated from what had made them successful against Surrey and in the first period in Penticton. The Kings were pinned a lot in their own zone, failed to clear pucks and the pressure built up.
- 3rd period and Trail built on the lead, 4-2 with 8 minutes remaining and with the way that the third was being played, that looked set to be it. There were few great scoring opportunities and any chances that were there were swiftly dealt with by both netminders.
- Cue the comeback. After no powerplay opportunities in the first two periods, the Kings got their first early in the third and had a couple of good looks but no joy. The 2nd chance was quickly converted by another Adam Brubacher bomb from the blue line, his 2nd as a King. 1:08 later Findlater adds his 2nd to tie the game up. 35 seconds after that Liam Lawson gets another lucky one as the Kings hound around the net and a puck shoots out to Lawson who is able to beat a sliding MacBurnie for a 5-4 lead and three goals in 1:43. Tristan Mullin adds an empty netter with 0.3 seconds remaining to close out the scoring.
- A great weekend for Stefan Wornig who has now started four straight games, plus playing the bulk of last Saturday in Nanaimo. He’s 2-2 in that stretch but this road trip was the biggest test for him as a King and he passed with flying colours and gave the Kings a chance to win each and every night. Yes there are a couple he’d probably want back, but tough to ask for much more out of Wornig this weekend.
Here’s what Brock Sawyer had to say in the post game show:
https://soundcloud.com/powell-river-kings/january-17th-postgame
Three Stars of the Game
- Liam Lawson (Kings) – 1 goal, game winner
- Cooper Leitch (Trail) – 2 goals
- Nolan Redler (Trail) – 2 assist
With the win, the Kings move into outright 2nd in the Island Division ahead of the Cowichan Valley Capitals. The team is well behind Nanaimo for first in the Division however still holds a game in hand over the Clippers.
The Kings start a 9-game home stand this coming weekend, hosting the Alberni Valley Bulldogs on Friday night and the Surrey Eagles Sunday afternoon.
