Kings thump Smoke Eaters to end losing streak
Game Recap is presented by Iris Optometry.
The Kings were back at home with another opportunity to end their losing streak. Coming off a 3-2 OT loss in there last game against the Salmon Arm Silverbacks the Kings were eager to gain that extra point as the welcomed former King Max Potvin and the Trail Smoke Eaters to the Hap.
It would be a lighting fast start for he Kings who would open the scoring just 2:58 when Noah Eyre hammered home his 6th off a centering pass from Will Jones. That lead would develop into two midway through the period and the Kings would find themselves on a 2 on 0 shorthanded where Noah Eyre went cross ice to Anthony Lucarelli to knocked home his 6th. Then right after the penalty expired the Kings entered the offensive zone and after some great puck movement, the puck would wind up on the stick of Zander Stewart in the high slot and he went post and in for his first in the BCHL to make it 3-0 early. The third goal would spell the end of the night for Smoke Eaters goalie Teagan Kendrick who made 4 saves on 7 shots as Ryan Parker came in but that didn’t stop the Kings. Once again on another penalty kill the Kings would create another offensive opportunity and this time Anthony Lucarelli set up Anthony Yu who had a man all over him but managed to get the shot off and tickle the twine for his 5th to make it 4-0. Still on the same PK the Kings got one more down a man this time it was Adam Mendelson using is patented speed to go on a breakaway and went to his backhand for his 3rd of the year and the 3rd shorthanded goal of the period for the Kings as they made it 5-0 after one period.
Teagan Kendrick would return to the Smoke Eaters net in the second and would settle down. The Smokies started to find their footing but the Kings kept on applying the pressure looking to expand on their lead. There would be no scoring in the seconds as the shots were 28-18 for the Kings after 40 minutes.
In the third the floodgates would open up once again for the Kings scoring three more times. First it was Anthony Yu scoring his second of the game on a power play at 13:32, then Joonas Linnavuori would sneak one between the pad of Kendrick and the post at 14:39 for his second of the year, and then to wrap it all up, Kailus Green scored his first as a King at 17:21 on a power play to put 8 on the board for the Kings. The Smoke Eaters would try to get one to end the shutout bid of Tresor Wotton but he was steady all game long and made 31 saves in an 8-0 victory.
The win would end the Kings 5 games losing streak as they now have a record of 4-8-1-0 on the season. Tresor Wotton picked up his first BCHL win while posting the first Kings shutout since Zak Brice did in March of 2021. 11 Kings picked up points while 8 of them had multi point games including Anthony Lucarelli and Noah Eyre who both had a goal and two assists. The Kings scored on the man advantage for the 7th consecutive game as they went 2 for 4 and continue to boast the top power play in the league while the penalty went 4 for 4 with 3 shorthanded goals..
The weekend continues for the Kings as they head over to the Island to take on the Grizzlies on Saturday the 4th at 6pm then the wrap up the 3 in 3 in Port Alberni for the first meeting with the Bulldogs at 2pm on Sunday. The next home games for the Kings are next Friday and Saturday November 10 & 11 as it’s a rematch of last years playoff series against the leagues best Surrey Eagles.
Watch the Massullo Motors Highlights at www.powellriverkings.com/highlights