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After a trip to Seattle for the BCHL Showcase, the Kings returned home looking to snap out a 4 game funk. They we’re facing the Salmon Arm Silverbacks who were playing their 7th consecutive road game and making their first visit to Powell River since January of 2020.
Both teams would trade some chances in the first but the first puck to cross the goal line didn’t happen until late in the first. The Kings and their top ranked power play went to work in the final moments of the frame and it would be Mr. Power Play himself Alexi Van Houtte-Cachero sneaking one through Eli Pulver for his 9th of the season and 8th on the power play. The Kings outshot the Silverbacks 11-8 as they headed to the second with the one goal advantage.
Salmon Arm wouldn’t waste much time in the second to tie up as JJ Monterio would tip the puck past Tresor Wotton who was making his first start at home at 2:35 to tie it at one. Immediately on the consuming faceoff, the Backs’ got another scoring chance. They didn’t score but were rewarded with a penalty shot. Cole Cooksey would take the shot for the Silverbacks but his backhand attempt was denied by Wotton to keep the score even. 5 minutes into the period the Kings would regain the lead when Thomas Belzil made a phenomenal no look backhand pass from behind the net right to Anthony Yu in the slot who one timed it in for his 4th to make it 2-1. The Kings would look to expand their lead and get a few more good looks but former Kings affiliate Eli Pulver came up with a number of big saves to keep his teams deficit to one. Late in the period Salmon Arm was on the power play and thought they scored the game tying goal, however it was waved off due to goalie interference as the Kings took another one goal lead to the intermission.
At the start of the third the Silverbacks put pressure on the Kings defence with many early shots but Tresor Wotton shut the door to keep the lead at one. Salmon Arm would eventually tie it with 6:40 to as a lead pass from their own zone would get through the Kings in the neutral zone and create and off man rush for the Backs’ and the puck would end of on the stick of Ty Paisley who ripped one past the blocker of Wotton to make it 2-2. Not long after Alexi Van Houtte-Cachero would receive a 5 minute major for a blow to the head with 5:26 to give Salmon Arm a huge opportunity to win the game. With the game on the line, the Kings penalty kill rose to the occasion and didn’t give the Silverbacks a whiff of a scoring chance to keep it tied and send it to OT.
It wouldn’t take long to decided the winner which game at 2:09 when Back’s forward Maddux Martin dug the puck free in the corner and took it too the slot. Despite being tied up he would manage to get a shot off which just sneaked through Wotton to secure the win for the team in purple.
Tresor Wotton make 29 saves as he was named the first star, while Eli Pulver made 27 saves for Salmon Arm. The Kings power play scored for the sixth game in a row going 1 for 4, and the penalty kill bounced back nicely after allowing three goals to Prince George going 3 for 3 including the 5 minutes major.
The Kings have now lost 5 games in a row and sit with a record of 3-8-1 as the month of October ends. Even though they have lost 5 games the Kings have been right in them with 4 of the 5 losses coming by only one goal.
Up next the Kings will play there only 3 in 3 of the season next weekend which starts at home on Friday November 3rd where they will welcome for Kings Max Potvin and the Trail Smoke Eaters to the Hap at 7pm. Then the Kings will head over to the Island on Saturday to take on the Victoria Grizzlies at 6pm, then the weekend will end with a 2pm Sunday afternoon battle in Alberni against the Bulldogs.
