Powell River Kings faced a three-goal deficit for the second time in as many games on November 6, but unlike the night before, the home team found a way to get back into a BC Hockey League (BCHL) game against Chilliwack Chiefs.
The first period was a mirror image of the contest between the same two teams at Hap Parker Arena on November 5. Chilliwack once again jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first period, thanks to an early power play goal by AJ Lacroix, followed by a pair from Connor Milburn, including a shorthanded marker at 10:46 and an even-strength goal 84 seconds later.
Kings garnered momentum with a pair of goals in period two, starting with a power play that carried over from the first period. 52 seconds after play resumed, and with only five seconds remaining with the extra attacker, Caleb Parkhouse brought the crowd of 739 fans to its feet with a shot from the slot that beat Chiefs goaltender Cole Savage.
Nolan Krogfoss pounced on a rebound 49 seconds later and lifted a shot over Savage’s shoulder to cut the lead to 3-2. Play was even for the remainder of the middle frame, with Powell River outshooting Chilliwack 10-9. Overall the teams ended up with 25 shots each in the game.
At 13:39 of the third period, Mark D’Agostino converted another rebound opportunity with a deke around Savage for the Kings’ second power play goal of the night, knotting the score at three.
Chiefs thought they had the goal-ahead goal with just over a minute left in the game. Abram Wiebe finished an end-to-end rush with a wraparound attempt that beat Kings’ goaltender Zak Brice. But after the four on-ice officials came together to discuss the play, they determined a Chiefs’ player had pushed a Kings’ defender into Brice, resulting in a no-goal call for interference. No penalty was called on the play.
In the final minute, Krogfoss intercepted a pass in the neutral zone and carried the puck over the blue line, then fired a shot from a sharp angle over Savage’s shoulder for his second of the night and the game winner. Powell River killed off the remaining 20 seconds to earn their first win on home ice since March of 2020, before the COVID-19 pandemic led to the 2020/2021 season being played away from home in a bubble in Coquitlam.
Kings lost their first two home games of the 2021/2022 BCHL season to Nanaimo.
Anthony Lucarelli, Parker Lalonde, Branden Toye, Dylan Finlay and Karter McNarland each had one assist in the win over Chilliwack.
Powell River is seventh in the nine-team BCHL Coastal Conference with an overall record of four wins, seven losses and one overtime loss.
Kings host Cowichan Valley for a pair of games this weekend, Friday, November 12, and Saturday, November 13. Game time is 7 pm both nights.
