The Powell River Kings let a 3-1 lead slip in the third period as the Nanaimo Clippers rallied and secured first place in the Island Division with a 5-3 win, relegating the Kings to finish in second place.
For the second straight game against Nanaimo, the Kings worked their way to a 2-0 lead through. First, at 6:02, Liam Lawson would bury on the end of a Tristan Mullin feed from the goal line on the Kings first powerplay opportunity of the game. Then Brandon Kennedy would get a fortunate bounce as he pounced on a rebound from a Nick Halagian shot for his 1st in the BCHL and a 2-0 advantage through 20 minutes.
Into the second period and despite a Matt Hoover cutting the lead to just one, the Kings restored their buffer shortly after, again on the powerplay. Nick Halagian scored his 2nd of the weekend with good net presence and the Kings went out to a 3-1 lead through 40 minutes.
Nanaimo rampaged back in the third, scoring four unanswered goals including an empty netter late in the frame for a 5-3 win, clinching first place in the Division in the process. The result means the Kings are guaranteed to finish 2nd in the Island Division and will host the Cowichan Valley Capitals on March 4th to kick off the first round of the playoffs.
Click here for the post game interview with Brock Sawyer
Three Stars of the Game
- Devin Brosseau (Clippers) – 4 assists
- Liam Lawson (Kings) – 1 goal, 1 assist
- Nolan Aibel (Clippers) – 1 goal, 1 assist
The Kings wrap the regular season on the road next weekend, visiting Victoria on Friday night then the Alberni Valley Bulldogs Saturday night and Sunday afternoon.
