After an extended break the Kings returned home for the first time in 2022 to take on the team who they opened the new year with the Victoria Grizzlies to open a 5 game home stand.
It would be a dream start for the Kings 7:15 into the game as Dylan Finlay would pick up the puck in the Kings zone and take it all the way down to the Grizzlies goal and make a move cross-crease to tuck it around the pad of Cole Schwebius. The goal would be the captains 3rd of the season and his first at Hap Parker Arena. The Grizzlies would be quick to answer scoring just 10 seconds later with Justin Gibson scoring from left circle to tie the game. Victoria would add 2 more from Ellis Rickwood on the power play and Connor Eddy on a breakaway to make it 3-1. The Kings would get one back before the end of the period as Caleb Parkhouse stole the puck in the defensive zone and took it all the way to the other end on a breakaway and make a great deke to beat Schwebius and notch his 5th of the season.
In the second the Kings got off to another great start 3:12 in as Casey Aman blocked the clearing attempt and found Nic Porchetta all alone in the slot and put it under the glove of Schwebius for his 5th of the season and to tie the game at 3. The Kings would get the lead back on the power play as Karter McNarland wired a wrister from the left circle to score his first goal since October 29 ending a 15 game goalless drought. Zak Brice would go on to make 10 saves in the middle frame as the Kings would take the 1 goal lead into the final period.
Once more the Kings would score the opening goal of the period as Aaron Neal would score his 4th after he fired a puck on net in the slot and it just squeezed through Schwebius to extend the lead to two. After giving up 3 straight goals in the 1st period the Kings would score 4 of there own to take control of the game. However you can’t sleep on the Grizzlies and they woke up after that last goal. A little over a minute after Neal made it 5-3 Matthew Wood to take the puck in the neutral zone and take it down the right wing and put the puck on net from the right circle, while Brice made the save Connor Eddy was right there to tap in the rebound for his second of the game and get the Griz back within one. Victoria would take the momentum from that goal and use it to tie it up 13:41 in as Andrew Amousse made a great move at the blue line to beat Casey Aman and then sniped the puck past Brice to tie the game.
The game would end up going to over time and Victoria made quick work in the extra frame. After winning the faceoff they never let go of the puck, slowly making their way up ice. Andrew Amousse would take the puck in to the offensive end and drop it for Connor Eddy who shot it past Brice for the hat trick and game winner just 19 seconds into OT.
Kings now sit a 10-15-3 on the season and still remain 7th in the Coastal Conference. Up next the Kings host the Surrey Eagles on Sunday at 4pm to kick of a double header.
