After the Kings picked up their first win on the season on Thursday vs the Wenatchee Wild the boys looked to keep on rolling at the Showcase in the first ever meeting against the Cranbrook Bucks.
The scoring got started in the first period as the Kings were shorthanded and Hunter Andrew was able to get loose with the puck and make a move to the Bucks net, with a Bucks defender on him Andrew was able to make a great play and shoot the puck between his legs forcing Bucks goalie Nathan Airey to make a pad save but the rebound came to Karter McNarland who put in in for his 2nd shorthanded goal on the year. On the same power play the Bucks would get the goal back on a point shot from Jerrod Smith found its way through traffic and past Zak Brice. Just over 2 minutes later McNarland was at it again hustling toward to goal with the puck and made a cross crease pass to Mark D’agostino for shot it over a sprawling Airey to give the Kings the lead once more, as the period would finish with the Kings up 2-1.
The second period was dominated by the Bucks who were relentless in the offensive and on the defensive side limiting the Kings to 3 shots in the middle frame. Zak Brice would weather the onslaught for almost the entire period but with 24 seconds left a shot by Cole Assaily was blocked by the Kings but deflected right to Walker Gelbard who one timed it in to tie the game at two.
The Bucks would continue right where they left off in the 3rd and got the lead 6 minutes in after a shot from the top of the slot by Theo Thrun in which Brice made the pad save but the rebound game to Johnny Johnson who tapped it in to give the Bucks the lead. Despite being outplayed for about 15 minutes of action between the 2nd and 3rd the Kings kept on pushing and on the power play they got the equalizer as Dylan Finlay unleashed a slapper from the point and it made it’s way into the back of the net. That goal would be the captains first BCHL goal in his 46th game in the league. With momentum back on their side the Kings kept pushing and 12:57 Mark D’agostino made a centering pass to McNarland but it wasn’t on his tape as it forced Karter go between his legs and he made it work scoring and absolutely incredible goal to give the Kings the lead 4 to 3.
The Bucks would continue to push in hopes of forcing overtime but in the final minute with their goalie pulled McNarland would intercept and pass in the defensive zone and skated it out to center and slid it into the open cage for the Hat Trick and seal the deal to give the Kings a 5-3 victory over the Cranbrook Bucks. Mark D’agostino would pick up 3 points (1g 1a) while Hunter Andrew had 2 assists and Zak Brice put in another great performance making 32 saves in the win.
The Kings will move to 2-4 on the season, and will carry momentum into Coquitlam on Wednesday against new divisional foe in the Express before heading to the Okanagan for a Friday/Saturday double header vs the West Kelowna Warriors and the Penticton Vees. Catch Wednesday’s game vs the Express on 95.7 Coast FM and BCHL TV. Jordan Kiss will have all the action for you with pregame starting at 6:45.
