Powell River Kings and Coquitlam Express treated 585 fans at Hap Parker Arena to an offensive outburst in the first period of a BC Hockey League (BCHL) game at Hap Parker Arena on Sunday, March 13. The teams combined for eight goals through 20 minutes.
Coquitlam opened the scoring 25 seconds after the initial puck drop, then fell behind less than three minutes later. Kaleb Nelson and Mark D’Agostino scored for the Kings, who held the lead until the 12:47 mark, when the visitors scored the first of four straight goals in a six-minute span.
Nelson and Parker Lalonde combined to set up Casey Aman’s seventh goal of the season in the final minute of the period, cutting the lead to 5-3. All eight first period goals came at even strength.
Coquitlam padded the lead with three more goals in the second period, including one on a power play, en route to a second win in as many days in Powell River, this time by an 8-3 margin. Express skated to a 5-3 win the day before.
Lucas Bourdon, Karter McNarland and Hunter Andrew had first period assists for the Kings, who were outshot 42-27.
With an overtime loss to Coquitlam on 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 BCHL Coastal Conference. Capitals lost in regulation to Chilliwack on March 12 and also to Surrey on March 13, and have two games remaining, one at home and one on the road.
Kings will finish the season with a three-game road trip starting Friday, March 18, in Langley. Powell River visits Chilliwack on March 19 and plays its final regular season game in Surrey on March 20.
