Dante De Caria
Powell River, BC – The Powell River Kings (3-0) defeated the Chilliwack Chiefs (1-1), 5-2 on Friday night at the Hap Parker Arena.
The Kings completed another comeback. Trailing 2-1 early in the second period, the Kings scored four unanswered goals in the second period to take the lead. That would set a season high for goals scored in a single period, and for the most unanswered goals in a frame.
Levi Glasman tied the game a two. Hunter McCoy hit Glasman high in the natural zone, leading to a breakaway, and Glasman’s second goal of the game, as he beat Kolby Thornton blocker side. Then just 38-seconds later, Powell River native Nic Porchetta gave the Kings a 3-2 lead, crashing the net and potting home a rebound for his first of two goals in the game.
“I was pretty pumped up,” said Porchetta following his performance. “Paler-Chow got it low to high for (Dylan) Finlay and it was a nice one-timer on net. I found it, and jammed it right through the five-hole.”
“It helped me for sure, but it helped the team a lot more to get this win.”
Detroit Red Wings prospect Cooper Moore gave the Chiefs a 2-1 lead just two minutes into the second period. Five minutes later, the Kings tied and took the lead.
“We exploded in the second period,” said Kings Assistant Coach Brock Sawyer. “It’s hard work. It was a good bounce back second period, and we put the peddle down in the last 12-minutes. I thought we sat back and felt out the competition (Chiefs) in the first period, and it kind of went both ways.”
The Kings line of Nolan Krogfoss, Jacob Paler-Chow and Porchetta combined for five points. Sawyer said that whole line was great in the win.
“That line came out with a ton of energy after Levi (Glasman) scored to make it 2-2. They were relentless hounding pucks and they made them play defense, and were rewarded. That whole line was phenomenal for us. Anytime your younger guys can do that, and have an impact in the game, it lifts the team. The lines above those guys fed off their energy.”
Nic Porchetta and Levi Glasman each scored two goals, while Reilly Moran found the top corner for his second goal of the season. Porchetta and Glasman each collected their first two-goal games of the season, while Moran scored for the second straight game.
Matteo Paler-Chow made 23-saves, and 11-saves in the third period for his second win this season. Paler-Chow had turned away every shot for the final 38-minutes of the game, keeping the Kings in the lead.
“Once he settled in and got comfortable, he looked good,” said Sawyer. “His rebound control was good. He was pushing pucks aside and into the meshing. He’s a 20-year-old, and he knows that with a younger defensive core, that any whistle is a good whistle. I thought other than the first goal, he was steady as their were not many rebounds in the slot and that’s what you expect as a 20-year-old.”
The Kings improved to 11-6-1 against the Chiefs all-time.
The Powell River Kings are back in action on Sunday against the Cowichan Valley Capitals at 2 p.m. That will be the final home game until October 11th, when the Kings host the Penticton Vees.
