To wrap up a busy week the the Kings sailed over to the Island to take on the Victoria Grizzlies and Alberni Valley Bulldogs.
Saturday the Kings met with the Grizzlies for the third time this season. Victoria took the first two games on opening weekend but both were just by one goal and after starting 5-0 the Grizzlies entered the game dropping their last 4. Prior to the game the Kings revealed that Joel Purdom was named the team Captain as he looked to lead the Kings to a victory.
It would be a tough start for the Kings with the home side scoring on a power play 39 seconds in and then adding another one before the seven minute mark. After the early deficit the Kings settles down and started to play their game. at 17:17 Thomas Belzil scored his third goal of the season making a highlight reel move to get past the defender then 25 seconds later Rhett Hamilton scored his first as King knocking in a rebound to tie the game up at two.
There was no scoring in the second period and early in the third the Kings took the lead with Niccolò Mansueto scoring his second at 2:22. Victoria tied it up 4 minutes later but the Kings regained the lead at at 11:17 with a power play marker from Axel Löfren. With the lead the Kings locked it down defensively. The Grizzlies would press and apply pressure but the Kings and Vincent Lamberti didn’t break. The Kings got an insurance marker with just over two minutes to go with bang bang play off an offensive zone face off that Brandan Giles finished off. With just over a minute left the Grizzlies were on the power play and had the goalie pulled to go up 6 on 4 but once again the Kings stood their ground. Tre Peck scored a shorthanded goal into the empty net to seal the deal and give the Kings their second win on the season. Vincent Lamberti made 36 saves to claim his second victory as well.
Coming off a strong performance it was a short turn around with an afternoon contest in Port Alberni in the first meeting with the Bulldogs this season. The Kings got the first chance just seconds after the opening faceoff, but were unsuccessful. From that point on it was all Bulldogs in the first period. Grayson Salmon scored 2:29 to give Alberni the lead and the kept on looking for more. The Bulldogs fired 18 total shots towards the Kings net and luckily for the visitors Vincent Lamberti was dialed in keeping it a one goal game after 20 minutes.
The Kings found their footing in the second period and started to but some pressure on the Bulldogs. They managed to draw a few penalties and found themselves on a two man advantage but couldn’t get a puck past Ryder Shea. The Kings had to wait until the end of the period to get on the scoreboard when Marek Beaudoin made a great move to get to the front of the net. He got a shot on goal which was denied but the puck sat freely in the crease and the new captain Joel Purdom poked it in with 91 seconds left to score his fourth of the season.
The third period was nearly a repeat of the first. It was all Alberni as the Kings who were playing in their fourth game in six days were starting to run out of gas. The home team had a few power play opportunities in the period but the Kings penalty kill that has struggled to start the season locked it down to keep it tied at one. Eventually the Bulldogs broke through with under six minutes left to take lead on a goal from Kenyon McIssac. With little left in the tank the Kings didn’t get their first shot of the final period until there was 4 minutes left. They got the goalie pulled for the extra attacker but couldn’t get the puck to the front of the net with the Bulldogs blocking everything in front. Alberni added the empty netter in the final seconds to win 3-1. The final shots were 41-24 Bulldogs. Vincent Lamberti made 38 saves and was named the games first star.
Now through 11 games the Kings are 2-7-2-0 as they now head into a stretch where they play 10 out of the next 13 games at home. Up next is the Prince George Spruce Kings who are at the Hap this weekend for the first time in 5 years. Games are Friday the 25th and Saturday the 26th at 7pm. Get your tickets at tickets.powellriverkings.com
Watch the Massullo Motors highlights from both games at www.powellriverkings.com/highlights
