It is a common theme for Powell River Kings to close with a win on a three-game three-day road trip, so why change anything now?
Their latest adventure included a 5-3 loss in Coquitlam on Friday, then a 6-4 defeat in West Kelowna and a dramatic 4-3 win in Salmon Arm.
Overall, they played well enough to win in all three games but couldn’t close or take advantage of opportunities, which proved costly.
Kings got off to a great start in Coquitlam against the Express when Jarid Lukosevicius and Jeremy Leclerc scored on both of their power-play chances to give them a 2-0 lead after one period.
Coquitlam roared back in the second with three unanswered goals in the first five minutes to go up 3-2 but Kings’ Brent Lashuk worked a give and go with Lukosevicius to tie 3-3 after two periods.
Kings lost Kurt Keats with five minutes left in the second when he was hit in the face with a puck. But the gutsy performer returned, minus some teeth and wearing a cage, to start the third.
Coquitlam scored at 2:01 to lead 4-3 but the Kings had a glorious chance to tie and possibly win when given a seven-minute man advantage with eight minutes to play in the game.
Unfortunately, Nick Halagian and Jonny Evans each took minor penalties during the long power play and effectively shortened it to three minutes with no results.
Opportunity missed and with it went the badly needed points for the Kings who lost 5-3.
On to West Kelowna for their first meeting with the Warriors this year and this time the Kings found themselves down 2-0 after the opening period.
However, the Kings came out flying in the second period and, with goals from Lukosevicius, Keats and a nice breakaway effort from Hunter Findlater in a four-minute span, they enjoyed a brief 3-2 lead.
Kings had it for only 12 seconds when the Warriors scored to tie 3-3 and then again before the end of the period to lead 4-3 after two.
Kelowna scored a couple more to go up 6-3 but JJ Coleshaw’s lone goal late in the period wasn’t enough to prevent the Kings from going winless this season in the middle game of a three-game road trip.
Historically speaking though, they have been merciless in the final game and got the win against Salmon Arm Silverbacks in the most unconventional way.
As in the past two games one of the teams, happily Powell River this time, jumped out to a 2-0 lead after the first period.
Findlater, with his second in as many games, and Lashuk scored the goals but Salmon Arm started the second period with a quick one at 0:56 seconds.
Leclerc answered for the Kings but the Silverbacks closed the second period with a strong effort and a couple of late goals at 18:01 and 19:48 to tie 3-3.
Brett Magnus and the Kings were on the ropes, down a man in the third, when Mitchell Hawes fed Lukosevicius for an unexpected but deliriously spectacular shorthanded goal for the win.
The banged up crew added another injury with the loss of captain Coleshaw during the game but boarded the bus to wrap up the season with a home-friendly schedule.
They play nine of the remaining 13 games at Hap Parker Arena and begin the home stretch with just a single game this weekend.
They get another shot at the Warriors on Saturday, January 24, before they take a short trip to Vancouver Island in the middle of next week.
Tuesday, January 27, they are in Duncan against Cowichan Capitals and Wednesday, January 28, against division-leading Nanaimo Clippers.
Island Division Standings
TEAM GP W L T OTL PTS OTW GF GA DIFF
Nanaimo 43 29 12 0 2 60 5 178 124 +54
Powell River 45 21 16 0 8 50 5 162 165 -3
Victoria 43 19 14 1 9 48 3 156 160 -4
Alberni Valley 40 19 16 2 3 43 3 148 132 +16
Cowichan Valley 45 17 25 2 1 37 4 132 176 -44
