A career high 43 saves from Matteo Paler-Chow and a trio of powerplay goals has helped propel the Kings past the Langley Rivermen in a physical affair at the Hap Parker Arena on Friday night.
After a shaky start that forced Matteo Paler-Chow into action early, the Kings settled and controlled much of the first period. The team outshot the Rivermen 19-13 through the frame and carried a bulk of the play. A powerplay opportunity midway through the period yielded the first goal as Ben Berard was teed up on the right faceoff circle for a one timer shortside and his 14th of the season for a 1-0 lead.
Into the 2nd period and the Rivermen took the game to Powell River, however it was the Kings to strike again, and again on the powerplay. This time the Kings worked the puck from the goal line up to Callum Volpe who snapped a sharp wrister home for his 2nd of the season and a 2-0 lead. The Rivermen countered that goal with one of their own, finding a rebound in front of Matteo Paler-Chow and able to poke the puck home. Brandon Costa getting credit for his 1st of the year and a 2-1 scoreline. The Rivermen outshot the Kings 13-6 in the period, and led 26-25 through 40.
The story repeated itself in the third with the Kings again scoring early in the frame on a powerplay opportunity. This time Berard returned the favour on the man advantage and found a seam from faceoff dot to faceoff dot to tee up Carter Turnbull for his team-leading 18th of the season and a 3-1 lead. The Rivermen would begin to roll the dice, especially when presented with a 5-on-3 advantage late in the frame that the team turned into a 6-on-3 by pulling the goaltender. Connor Marshall scored his 5th of the year and a 3-2 scoreline.
Matteo Paler-Chow did the rest as the Rivermen piled on pressure but nothing else got by the Kings netminder, who stopped 43 shots for his 7th win of the season. Paler-Chow improves his record to 7-3-1, sitting 6th in the BCHL in goals against average (2.25) and 3rd in save percentage (.926).
Here’s the post game show with Matteo Paler-Chow and Brock Sawyer
Three Stars of the Game
1. Matteo Paler-Chow (Kings) – 43 saves, 7th win
2. Callum Volpe (Kings) – 1 goal
3. Jonny Evans (Kings) – 2 assists
The win is the 9th straight for the Kings against the Rivermen in Powell River, moving their home record against the current incarnation of a Langley BCHL franchise to 9-0. The Kings have outscored the Rivermen 46-10 during that same time period. 45 shots on goal from Langley is also a new season high for Powell River, eclipsing the 42 that Victoria got on Mitch Adamyk last Tuesday night. A 3/6 powerplay is the 6th time this season the Kings have scored at least 3 times on a powerplay in the same game and the third time in the last 6 games.
The Kings wrap the home portion of their pre-Christmas schedule against the Surrey Eagles on Saturday night at the Hap Parker Arena, a 7:15pm start.
