Despite a depleted lineup Kings continue to find a way to keep the momentum going.
They faced a very good team, Langley on Friday night, at the Hap and won their 7th game of the young season 4-2.
Once again, some great goaltending and timely scoring was key, but they almost opened the door too far for Langley to come back.
The opening period was an unproductive one for either team as the shots were 7-6, the powerplays weren't powerful and neither scored a goal.
Kings got gradually better and finally put a goal in when Jarid Lukosevicius, on a nice feed from Luke McCaw, drilled the puck off the post and in at 8:04 of the second period.
Austin Azurdia replied for the Rivermen a minute later when Mitch McLain was allowed to walk off the wall with the puck and force Jeff Smith to make a save. The rebound, however, went to Azurdia who lifted it high past Smith at 9:10.
BCHL Player of the Week, Kurt Keats, got the lead back on the powerplay at 14:47 when got to the slot and wristed a clean shot to put the Kings up 2-1.
Kings got a little breathing room at 18:29, when Stephen Hiff scored a great goal to put them up 3-1.
Keats was doing his thing creating havoc inside the Rivermen blueline when the puck was knocked off his stick but went right to Hiff in the high slot. Hiff snuck a hard, low shot to the far corner that completely surprised the Langley goaltender.
It looked pretty good for the Kings when Ryan Scarfo tipped a beautiful Keat`s setup at 6:40 of the third but just when you thought you could relax Kings took a series of penalties that gave Langley some hope.
Penalty killers were pressed to come up big throughout the 5 on 4, 5 on 3 and even the 6 on 3 that ended the game.
In the middle of all that, Langley was also awarded a penalty shot when Luke Ripley lifted the net off the moorings but for the second consecutive week Smith stood his ground and shooter Azurdia was forced to shoot wide. Just wide enough to ring his shot off the post and out with 11.2 seconds to go in the game.
Not a pretty game but nonetheless a big two points for the Kings who maintain their top position in the Island Division.
Kings were outshot 29-27 but got a goal in 7 tries on the powerplay while Langley was shutout in 8.
Armitage Mens Wear Three Stars:
1. Jarid Lukosevicius
2. Kurt Keats
3. Austin Azurdia
