Weekend recap is presented by Iris Optometry
After a short stint at home the Kings would head back out onto the road for 5 consecutive games over two weeks which started with a 3 game trip to the lower mainland.
It got started on Saturday in Surrey as the Kings took on the Eagles for the first time this season, and the Eagles got off to a quick start just 2:20 in when Logan Lorenz scored and it opened the flood gates as the Eagles would score 5 times in the opening period. The Eagles would add two more in the second including one from former Kings Ethan Riesterer as the Eagles would go on to a 7-0 win. The Kings would fire 35 shots towards the Surrey net as they were shutout for the second time in three games.
The Kings would look to bounce back on Saturday in Coquitlam for the third meeting with the Express. Once again the Kings would give up the early lead when Gavin Giesbrecht scored 2:12 into the game. After giving his team the lead, Giesbrecht would would be assessed a 5 minute major and game misconduct for checking from behind 6 minutes in the game which the Kings would take full advantage of. First Jack Blanchett would score his 4th of the season by driving to the net to put one past Adam Manji, then under a minute later Anthony Lucarelli would score his 3rd of the year to give the Kings the lead. Later on in the period Mirko Buttanzoni would tie the game for the Express on a power play of their own. The Kings would regain the lead when Anthony Lucarelli would score his second of the period off the rush as the Kings led 3-2 after 20 minutes.
In the second the Express would ramp up the intensity and were rewarded with two goals from Matteo Dixon and Mirko Buttanzoni once again as they took 4-3 lead after outshooting the Kings 20-6 in the period. In the third the Kings would manage to tie it when Anthony Yu’s shot was deflected by Ryder Ringor for his second of the season to even the score. This game would be tied after regulation and would go all the way to a shootout to decide this one. The first shooter would be Mirko Buttanzoni and he eased his way towards Kyle Metson and outwaited him to put the puck in the back of the net. The next 4 shooters would be stopped and it came down to Parker Lalonde to keep the game alive for the Kings. He would make a deke towards his forehand but just couldn’t tuck by the pad of Manji as the Express won 5-4. Kyle Metson would make 45 saves in the loss while the Kings power play went 2 for 4.
On Sunday the Kings would wrap up their three game swing with another tilt with the Langley Rivermen after both teams split a doubleheader at the Hap last weekend. The Kings would be better team to start the period outshooting Langley 5-0 but 7 minutes in the glass pane would be knocked out of it’s stand and there would be a delay to get it replaced. When play resumed the Riv started to find there groove and would score two goals in under a minute from Vitaly Levvy and Andrej Kovacevic as it would be the 8 straight game the Kings have given up the opening goal. Later in the period the Kings thought they got their first when Anthony Lucarelli scored but it was waved off due to a high stick. However the Kings would eventually get their first after Karter McNarland won the faceoff and then Jack Blanchett would unleash a slap shot which went into the back of the net. The goal would be the 5th of the season for Blanchett as he is now tied for the team lead in goals alongside Anthony Yu.
The Kings would trail 2-1 heading into the second but would tie it up 3:40 in when Dylan Hewlett’s wrist shot from the point deflected into the back of the net for his first goal since the pod season. After they tied it the Kings second period woes would continue as the Riv would score two more times to take a 4-2 lead. In the third the Kings would press to get back in the game and would fire 20 shots on net but Ajeet Gundarah stopped them all has he put up another 40 save performance against the Kings on route to a 4-2 win.
After the road trip the Kings are now 4-10-1-1 through 16 games this season and will be back on the road this weekend for two more. The Kings will play in Salmon Arm against the Silverbacks on Friday at 7pm, then on Saturday they will play the Chilliwack Chiefs at 6pm.
