For the second consecutive game, a third period shorthanded goal against cost the Kings two points, this time against the West Kelowna Warriors on Sunday afternoon at Royal LePage Place.
A physical start to the game with a couple of Kings on the receiving end of Warrior hits, with the home team signalling their intentions early. It was a big hit that lead to the first goal of the game, but not in the way that they probably planned. Brandon Dent took a run and bounced off Liam Lytton, falling at centre, however some quick puck movement from West Kelowna saw them gather and fire up to the middle where Dent had gotten back up and was behind the Kings defence, making no mistake for his first of the season and a 1-0 lead.
The Kings countered midway through the period with Ryan Brushett cashing in on the Kings first powerplay, one-timing home a feed from Neal Samanski from behind the net for Brushett’s team-leading 11th of the season and a 1-1 score through 20.
A horror 2nd for the Kings who were quickly running out of gas, standing still and not playing with the same tempo that the team had through the weekend. Three unanswered West Kelowna goals had the home team out 4-1 through 40. The fourth goal saw the end of Hayden Missler, who’s return to West Kelowna did not go as planned, surrendering 4 on 26 in 33:21.
The third saw the Kings answer quickly. 5 minutes in, Ryan Brushett went in two on one with AP forward Michael Abgrall. Brushett kept and fired in off the iron for his 2nd of the game and a 4-2 score. Four minutes later, Neal Samanski poked home a loose puck after Jayden Lee shot it to net with Levi Glasman picking up crumbs and putting it close to the goal and the score was 4-3. Then two minutes after that, deja vous from less than 24 hours prior as the Kings on a powerplay surrender a shorthanded breakaway courtesy a tough bounce in neutral ice. Bennett Norlin converts and it’s 5-3.
The Kings continued to push as Matt Fawcett again pulled the visitors within one on a nice feed from Ben Thomas, but that’s as close as the Kings would get, falling 5-4 in West Kelowna and wrapping the road trip with two of a possible six points.
The Kings hit the road again for another 3-in-3 next weekend, this time to Vancouver Island. The team will visit Cowichan on Friday, Alberni on Saturday and Nanaimo on Sunday.
