The Powell River Kings wrapped their final Interior trip of the season on a losing note, dropping a 5-2 decision in Vernon on Sunday afternoon.
The game was rough from the outset for a Powell River team coming off a shootout win the night prior, while the Vipers sat idle with a handful of players and staff making the trip to Salmon Arm to watch the Kings do battle. A pair of Vernon goals came early in the first, 1:13 and 4:17 into the frame as the Kings were on the back foot from the outset.
Vernon consolidated their advantage in the second perio, d with another pair of goals, both on the powerplay, with recent additions Lane Zablocki and Tyler Ho both notching goals. The run was stopped by the Kings late in the first period as Matthew Byrne registered his first goal as a Powell River King, turning and firing a shot that snuck past the goaltender, his 2nd of the season and a 4-1 game through 40.
Vernon got back out to a 4-goal cushion midway through the third period before Mitch Williams carried in down the right side and sniped a shot upstairs from just below the faceoff dot, his 13th of the year and a 5-2 game.
Matteo Paler-Chow had a rough game in net, taking the loss and stopping 28 of 33 Vernon shots.
The Kings face another 3-in-3 next weekend beginning with a pair of games on home ice against the division leading Victoria Grizzlies, before hitting the road for a Sunday afternoon contest in Alberni Valley.
