Just a post separated the two teams on the scoreboard but the Kings managed to hang on for a 5-4 win.
Alberni got off to the right start when they opened the scoring on a quick transition and nice shot by Hepso on the breakaway at 4:27.
Kings were carrying the play at the time and despite the setback continued to press hard in the Bulldogs end of the rink.
They were rewarded when Adair converted a nice centering pass Richardson and Waugh to tie it 1-1 at 10:53.
Kings next goal was a little weird, in that, Villeneuve put a nice pass on Burns stick but Burns lost control but when he got it back he fed Villeneuve who banged it in the net. Kings led 2-1 after one period.
Richardson scored from the top of the crease when he was fed a great pass from Jutzi on the powerplay at 2:27 and then Schuler also scored on the powerplay on a nice threeway passing play from Burns and Villeneuve.
Alberni bit into the 4-1 lead with a powerplay of their own at 18:16 but the Kings' first star, Villeneuve got his second of the night at 18:48, again from Burns, for a 5-2 lead after two periods.
Kings got a little sloppy in the third and suffered a couple of odd man rushes which the Bulldogs turned into goals to make it a game 5-4 with a dozen minutes to go. They also got lucky when a Bulldog forward hit the post with a hard shot from the slot but it stayed out with seven minutes to play.
Kings settled down after that but when Adair took a minor penalty with 2:15 to go it looked like Maguire and the penalty killers would have to hold the fort.
Fortunately the speed of Dan Schuler was too much for Trent Dorais and he took six minutes worth of penalties to pretty much quash the Bulldogs chances of tying the game.
Kings outshot the Bulldogs 35-19 but the Bulldogs made the most of their chances to keep the game close.
These two go at it again on Sunday at 1:30 and Kings fans, besides the great game between the Bulldogs and Kings, will be on the edge of their seats to see who wins the big Kings Giant Raffle.
Ron Armitage Mens Wear Three Stars:
1. J.P. Villeneuve
2. Teagan Waugh
3. Lars Hepso
