The Kings needed a little extra time, but they eventually got the win in Salmon Arm to send the team off to the Christmas break on a high with a 4-3 overtime victory.
Jon Jutzi got the scoring started in the first period, as he found a lane through the traffic in front of the Silverbacks defence, rang it off the post and in for a 1-0 game after 20 minutes. The Kings doubled the lead into the 2nd period as Matt Scarth got a shot from the side of the net to go in past Kurt Williams for his 10th of the season and a 2-0 lead. Brenden Forbes made it 3-0 and the Kings were cruising midway through the 2nd period.
The Backs weren’t done, and it was the usual suspects leading the charge. Brett Knowles made it 3-1 with a little over 5 to go in the 2nd period and the Silverbacks began to build some momentum. That gained when Chris Williams was ejected from the game for a blow to the head, as he hit Jeff Kennedy into the end boards and gave the Backs a 5-minute powerplay. Salmon Arm scored once on the advantage, Myles McCauley on a great pass from the corner, across the crease and tapping into the empty net for a 3-2 game after 40 minutes.
In the 3rd, the Kings bench shortened even further with Jon Jutzi leaving the game after blocking a shot from the point on his elbow, and the pressure finally got to the Kings with 42.1 seconds left in the contest, as the Backs Morgan Zulinick scored on a rebound from the faceoff dot with the goaltender pulled and sending the game to overtime.
Luckily for the Kings, they didn’t have to wait long for the winner, as Matt Scarth in a scramble in front poked home a loose puck for a 4-3 win and a happy ride back home.
Three Stars of the Game
- Morgan Zulinick (Silverbacks) – 1 goal, 2 assists
- Matt Scarth (Kings) – 2 goals
- Brett Knowles (Silverbacks) 1 goal
The Kings are now on the Christmas break and will return to action on December 29th against the Coquitlam Express.
