Parker Lalonde kicked off a pair of weekend games on a positive note for Powell River Kings on Saturday, March 12, scoring his 17th goal of the BC Hockey League season 5:47 into the first of two matchups against Coquitlam Express at Hap Parker Arena.
The visiting Express, who entered the contest six points ahead of the Kings for seventh place in the Coastal Conference, took over the game shortly thereafter, scoring twice in just over a minute to take a 2-1 lead after 20 minutes of play.
Coquitlam doubled its offensive output late in period two, this time in under a minute, with another pair of goals to go up 4-1 heading into the final frame.
Lalonde helped cut the lead to two goals by combining with Casey Aman, who had two assists on the night, to set up Anthony Lucarelli’s 13th of the season with 2:40 remaining on the clock.
Coquitlam sealed the win exactly two minutes later with an empty-net goal after Kings’ goaltender Matthias Smith was pulled in favour of an extra attacker. Smith turned aside all seven shots he faced after replacing Zak Brice to start the third period; Brice made 19 saves through 40 minutes. Adam Manji made 20 saves for the visitors to earn the win.
Nic Porchetta closed out the scoring at 19:56 with his eighth of the season.
Hunter Andrew, Dylan Hewlett and Jason Marsella recorded assists for Powell River, who face the Express again at 1:30 pm on Sunday, March 13.
With an overtime loss on Friday, March 11, Cowichan Valley Capitals earned one point to move into a tie with the Kings for the eighth and final playoff spot in the conference. Capitals have three games remaining, one at home and two on the road.
Kings will finish the season with a three-game road trip starting Friday, March 18, in Langley.
