By: Dante De Caria | Photo: Alicia Baas
Powell River, BC – Michael Abgrall scored the overtime winner just 1:50 into the extra-frame, giving the Powell River Kings (24-21-3) a 6-5 come from behind victory over the Salmon Arm Silverbacks (23-19-4) in front of a crowd of 838 on Friday night at the Hap Parker Arena.
Jacob Slipec led the rush into the attacking-zone, fed the puck to the point for Davis Pennington who threw a high shot on net, and smacked into the goal by Abgrall for the Kings first overtime winner of the season (1-3 in extra-time). The goal capped off a four point game (1G/3A) for the 16-year-old phenom (Abgrall).
“It was a well designed play,” said Kings assistant coach Brock Sawyer. “He (Pennington) made a nice shot to create a rebound, and Michael (Abgrall) is right there. We knew Slipec was going to do something off the rush. A nice delay to open up the passing lane. Between the three of them, it was a nice reward.”
The Kings new line of Jack Brackett, Michael Abgrall and Jacob Slipec combined for 10 points, as both Brackett and Slipec each had a goal and two helpers to go along with Abgrall’s career-high four points.
“Those are two great guys to play with,” said Jacob Slipec on joining Brackett and Abgrall on the second line. “Brackett is the fastest player in this league, and I’ve never been on a team with a guy like that. They’re both super easy to play with, and we’ve been clicking lately, but it’s not just us, it’s been the whole team. It’s not just one line.”
The Kings received contributions from throughout the lineup as eight players got on the score sheet, with six of them notching multi-point games. Slipec added that the Kings are at their best with they get contributions and scoring from the whole group.
“We had a team meeting earlier this week, and it was about when we (the Kings) win, we get contributions from more than three guys, and one on every line. He’s (Head Coach and GM Tyler Kuntz) is so great with the statistics and stuff, and personally – he’s the best coach I’ve every had. That guy works so hard, and it’s nice when we can listen and pull through with a win.”
Devin Leduc scored his first two goals as a King’ with his second tying up the contest with 46 seconds left in the third period. Levi Glasman led the rush into the Silverbacks zone before feeding Leduc the puck in the slot, where he beat Ethan Langenegger top corner, forcing overtime.
That wasn’t the only tying goal for the Kings in the third period, as the Kings came back down 4-2 with five minutes to play. Slipec scored his ninth, and Brett Roloson scored his third in as many games to tie it with the net empty.
That tie lasted a just over a minute, as Salmon Arm went back in front, with Coalson Wolford finding a loose puck in the crease, a sliding it under Derek Krall, as the Silverbacks regained the lead, making it 5-4.
“Things don’t go your way so you work hard to make it a 4-3 game, and then you battle to tie it up,” said Sawyer. “They get one on a questionable call (high stick), but give our guys credit, they worked hard. Leduc’s shot was an absolute bullet to tie the game, and it was much needed in moment. It was a relief. We scratched and clawed until the very end.”
The Kings have now won three straight games, and now have recorded at least a point in five straight contests, going 4-0-1 during that time.
Kings goaltender Derek Krall earned his third straight win, and 19th of the season, making 26 saves on 31 shots, while Silverbacks netminder Ethan Langenegger gave up a season tying high six goals on 31 shots.
For the Backs’ – they got a two goal performance from Daniel Rybarik, giving him 26 goals this season, which is now second in the BCHL. Salmon Arm had came back down 2-0 after one, led 3-2 after two, but were unable to close it out for their third straight loss (0-1-2).
The Powell River Kings are back in action Sunday, January 26th at 1:30 against the Langley Rivermen inside the Hap Parker Arena. The Kings have 10 games left in the season, with seven of the next 10 games on home ice.
