Weekend Recap is presented by Iris Optometry
The Kings returned to the road this weekend but were a little shorthanded with Parker Lalonde, Will Jones, and Marcus Dashevsky all out with injuries and Alexi Van Houtte-Cachero serving a two game suspension.
Friday the Kings were back at the Q Centre in Victoria a building they haven’t won in since 2020 and have struggled in this season. The Grizzlies would take the early lead a 3:37 on a power play off a one time from Nathan King from the right faceoff circle, then they would make it a two goal cushion a few minutes later when Jacksenn Hungle would capitalize on a odd man rush. The Kings would get on the board midway through the period when Anthony Lucarelli drove to the net causing a commotion in front and the puck would wind up back on the stick of Lucarelli who put it in for his 12th on the season. The Grizz would hold onto a 2-1 lead after the opening period with both teams having 11 shots.
The home team would get off to another quick start in the second period when Luc Pelletier scored 50 seconds in and then Devon DeVries added another at 4:32 to make it 4-1. The Grizzlies would give the Kings an opportunity to get back in the game later in the second period taking 4 consecutive penalties, but the Kings couldn’t take advantage on the power play as they trailed by three after two periods.
In the third the Justin Gibson would score 6 minutes in after his wrist shot from the blueline hit a King in front and deflected in. The deficit would be too much for the Kings who we’re unable to solve Oliver Auyeung-Ashton who once again as he made 30 saves in the game. Noah Liebl would add another in the final minute to seal a 6-1 victory for his team. Final shots were 34-31 Victoria.
On Saturday the Kings would look for a big bounce back performance as they met with the Capitals in Duncan.
The Kings would get off to a much better start in this game opening the scoring 1:05 in when Casey Aman scored on a backdoor pass from Anthony Lucarelli for his 6th on the season. The Capitals would tie it up shortly after off a face off win in the offensive zone. Adam Santilli’s point shout would be deflected by Andrew Haxton. The Caps would then take the lead two minutes later after the initial shot was stopped by Liam Vanderkooi, but it landed behind him and Kai Dunits would put it in to make it 2-1. The Kings would have an answer 14 minutes into the period after Anthony Yu threw to puck to the front of the next which was then tipped in by Adam Mendelson to even the score. Just over a minute later the Caps would find themselves on a power play and to score 6 seconds into it after a wrist shot from Luke Lavery found it’s way through a screened Vanderkooi to take a 3-2 which they held going into the second period.
In the second the Kings would tie it up once again when Cam Symons one timed the pass from Karter McNarland to even it up a three. However the Kings wouldn’t be able to keep it tied for long as the Ethan Dekay found himself on a breakaway and would manage to flip it over the shoulder of Vanderkooi and restore the Capitals lead as the home team found themselves up 4-3 after two periods.
In the third the Kings would get off to another quick start as they would find themselves on a power play and Dylan Hewlett unleashed a wrister from the left circle which picked the corner as the d-man scored his third of the season as the Kings tied it up again. This game would be a back and forth battle all night long and the perfect example of that came midway through the third after Anthony Lucarelli narrowly missed the net and the puck went right to the Caps who took it up ice on a odd man rush and Oliver Salo would shoot and score from the left circle going five hole to give his team the lead once again. The Capitals would eventually be able to take a two goal lead when Cole Medlay blocked a shot at his own blueline and then he would go in on another odd man rush. He would shoot it and it was stopped by he would pounce on the rebound and put it into the back of the net to make it 6-4. Like they have been all game the Kings would not give in and would trim the lead back down to one when Cam Symons tipped in a Casey Aman shot for his second of the game and 10th of the season as the Kings were now down 6-5 with 4 minutes to go. With just over a minute to go the Kings would find themselves with a golden opportunity to tie it up again as they would be on the power play, which turned into a 6 on 4 with the goalie pulled. However the Capitals bared down on the penalty kill to hold on to a 6-5 win. Final shots were 40-34 Cowichan while Karter McNarland, Anthony Yu, Casey Aman, and Cam Symons each had multi point nights.
With 16 games to go the Kings still sit in 7th in the Coastal Conference now 4 points up on Langley who sits in 8th and 8 points up on Cowichan with a record of 12-21-3-2. The Kings will return home next weekend for a double header against the Alberni Valley Bulldogs who a currently the hottest team in the BCHL winning their last 10 games in a row as of writing. The Kings will also get some key bodies back in the lineup as Alexi Van Houtte-Cachero will return from his suspension and Parker Lalonde and Will Jones are expected to be back in the lineup as well.
Kings will play Alberni Friday at 7pm then Saturday at 5pm. You can get your tickets online at tickets.powellriverkings.com
