Weekend Recap is presented by Iris Optometry
The Kings returned home for the first time in a month to take on the Alberni Valley Bulldogs who came into the weekend on 12 game point streak. After being shorthand the previous weekend the Kings were nearly fully healthy, as Alexi Van Houtte-Cachero returned from suspension, Will Jones was back from injury and the big news was Parker Lalonde drawing back in after missing the last 12 games.
It would be a tough start to the game on Friday as the Bulldogs would open the scoring 31 seconds in on a goal from Will Elger then at 8:31 Dakota MacIntosh would add another one to make it a 2-0 lead for the road team. The Kings would get one back later in the period when the birthday boy Karter McNarland would tip in a hard pass from Parker Lalonde for his 8th on the season as the Kings trailed by one after the first.
Three minutes into the second the Kings would find themselves two men down on a 5 on 3 Bulldogs power player, however the Kings would be the ones who took advantage. Cam Symons would tip the puck pass the Alberni defender at the blueline and go in on a partial break, the puck would be knocked away by Hobie Hedquist who then tried to cover up the loose puck but couldn’t, then Anthony Lucarelli would poke the puck in for his 13th and the second shorthanded goal on the year for the Kings as we were all square. Five minutes later the Kings would catch the Bulldogs on a bad line change and would go in on a 5 on 2 where Sam Schoenfeld got up in the rush and made a great move to beat Hedquist for is 3rd to give the Kings the 3-2 lead. Just when you thought the Kings had all the momentum the Bulldogs would tie it at 11:23 when Cam Vansickle picked the corner from the slot to even it up, then 90 seconds later Brady McIssac would fire a perfect shot on net from the right corner to beat Metson high and restore the Bulldogs lead.
Heading into the third the Bulldogs lead 4-3 and would extend it to two goals early on a power play on a goal from Emanuelson Charbonneau to make it 5-3 which would be the final score. Final shots in the game were 37-35 Alberni Valley.
The Kings would look for a big bounce back on Saturday after a close game on Friday and they would get off to a perfect start just 2:15 in, Anthony Lucarelli’s shot was stopped by Campbell Arnold but he left a rebound and it was put in by Alex Sandhu for his 3rd on the year. After giving up the early lead the Bulldogs would rally by scoring 3 goals in 7 minutes from Dakota MacIntosh, A.J. Vasko and Cam VanSickle to take a 3-1 lead. After the third goal the Kings would make a goalie change as Kyle Metson came in for Liam Vanderkooi who made 5 saves on 8 shots. The Kings would get on back with two minutes to go in the period when Alexi Van Houtte-Cachero drove to the net, pulled the puck to his forehand and slid it under Arnold for his 8th of the season as the Kings trailed 3-2 after the first.
The goals would keep on coming in the middle period, Will Elger scored at 1:21 after a Alberni power play expired to restore their two goal cushion. Jus over two minutes later the Kings would find themselves on a power play would capitalize after a Will Jones shot was blocked the puck would come to Parker Lalonde who rifled one over the glove of Arnold for his first goal since returning to the lineup and his 9th of the season. Then a few minutes later on a 4 on 4 situation Jack Blanchett would chip the puck up off the boards for Van Houtte-Cachero who went in on a partial break, the Bulldog defender would get back in time to disturb Van Houtte-Cachero but he still get a perfect shot off falling down roofing it over Arnold for his second of the game and to tie it up. Although just like the night before the Bulldogs didn’t go away and David Sacco would regain the lead less than two minutes later to make it 5-4. After a little break from scoring we would be back 4 on 4 and Anthony Lucarelli would take a shot from the slot which hit the crossbar and landed down on the goal line where Jack Blanchett would be there to knock it in for his 11th as we were tied 5-5 through two.
In the third the Kings would face and early onslaught from Alberni but Kyle Metson came up big when he was need most to keep it tied up. The Kings would take the lead midway through the period when Karter McNarland went backdoor to Will Jones to tipped it in for his third to make it 6-5. Then with less the five minutes to go the Kings would add an insurance maker on another power play when Ryder Ringor put in the rebound off the Jack Blanchett shot for his 6th and to seal a big 7-5 win over the Bulldogs.
Alexi Van Houtte-Cachero and Jack BLanchett would each finish with 3 point nights while Will Jones and Anthony Lucarelli each had two.
So after the weekend the Kings are at 13-22-3-2 and remain 7th in the coastal conference 5 points up on the 8th place Rivermen and 8 points up on 9th place Capitals.
The Kings will now gear up for a 3 in 3 weekend that includes two road games. First the Kings will be at home to the Vernon Vipers on Friday at 7pm, then on Saturday they will be in Alberni for another matchup with the Bulldogs at 7pm, and to wrap up the weekend the Kings will be in Cowichan on Sunday for a afternoon battle vs the Capitals at 2pm.
Massullo Motors Highlights | www.powellriverkings.com/highlights
Postgame interviews with Harry Mahesh | www.powellriverkings.com/postgame-interviews
