By: Dante De Caria | Photo: Alicia Baas
Powell River, BC – The Powell River Kings (12-14) defeated the Victoria Grizzlies (8-20) 5-2 in front of 784 fans on Friday night inside the Hap Parker Arena.
The Kings scored five or more goals in a game for the first time since the BCHL Showcase (Oct. 2), while improving to 4-3 in November (15GF/22GA).
Derek Krall earned his 10th win and fifth in a Kings uniform, stopping 32 of 34 shots, and 22 between the second and third period. Kings forward Jacob Slipec was named the first star with two assists, but he said Krall deserves the first star for his play.
“I don’t think I deserved first star, I think Derek Krall did,” added Slipec.”He stood on his head like he does every night, and he’s a guy we can always rely on. It’s more about us helping him out in the D-zone.”
The Kings led 5-0 after two periods, before allowing two power-play goals by the Grizzlies in the third period.
Slipec fed Ben Wozney a tape-to-tape pass at the left circle, and Wozney finished, opening the Kings offense with his third of the season just over three minutes into the first period. That helped the King improve to 10-0 when scoring first this season.
“It’s huge, and that’s the game plan every game,” said Slipec. “When we get the first one, it’s a snowball effect. I was just skating down the boards, we had a great net drive and that opened up a seem for Wozney who jumped up into the play.”
Kings led 3-0 after one, with later goals from Hunter McCoy (7th) and Jack Brackett (3rd). In the second, Reilly Moran snapped a shot off the back bar and out, becoming the second King’ to a 10 goals this season. Nic Porchetta tipped home Wozney’s shot minutes after Moran’s marker for his fifth of the year.
McCoy (2G/2A) and Dawson McKay (1G/3A) extend their point-streaks to four games, while Brett Roloson, in his Kings debut, extends his point-streak to five games (3G/5A) with an assist.
The Powell River Kings now lead the season series over the Grizzlies 3-1 (18GF/13GA) with five more games left to play this season.
The Kings are back in action tonight (Saturday, November 23rd) at 5:00 p.m., against the Victoria Grizzlies as the Kings end their five game homestand. The Kings will then head to a three game road trip next week before coming home on Friday, December 6th against Surrey.
