The Kings returned home this weekend to begin a 3 game homestand against the Langley Rivermen. The Kings were in search of their first win of the season, while the Rivermen had yet to lose in regulation through their first 4 games.
Friday would see the Kings debut of newly signed Tommy Karmiris and the first appearance of the season for Vincent Lamberti. It was a not ideal start for the Kings as the Riv would score the opener 44 seconds into the game off a defensive zone turnover.
Down one entering the second the Kings found their groove and would start to apply the pressure on the visitors. Just over 4 minutes into the period Thomas Belzil sent a pass in front of the Langley net, it would end up on the stick of Calvin Beard who was celebrating his 19th birthday. He would put the puck on goal and it went past a screened Bodee Weiss for his first BCHL goal.
The game remained tied heading to the third but the momentum was on the home side. They took the lead 5:30 when Thomas Belzil fed Tommy Karmirs who shot the puck from the high slot and past Weiss for his first as a King and third of the season. The lead then extended to two a few minutes later when the Riv gave the puck away in their own zone and Ryan Arnold quickly put it on net and past Weiss for his first of the season. With under three minutes left Langley pulled the goalie for the extra attacker and it paid off when a point shot deflected off Ethan Merner and in to cut the lead to one with 2:30 left. Just a few minutes away from their first win the Kings bared down to keep their lead. They would seal the deal in the final minute when Karmiris shot the puck into the open Rivermen goal from his own zone to make it 4-2 and give the Kings their first win of the season.
Vincent Lamberti finished with 25 saves and Thomas Belzil was credited with 3 assists in the victory.
After picking up their first win on Friday the Kings aimed to do it all over again Saturday night. It was a scoreless first period that was filled will penalties. The Kings ended up 0 for 5 in the opening period on the man advantage while the penalty kill did it’s job killing all three Langley power plays.
In the second the Rivermen looked to open the scoring early but couldn’t convert on a glorious 3 on 0 chance. Despite missing the chance they would take the lead at 4:29 on off a favorable rebound. The Kings had and answer six minutes later when a Calvin Beard point shot was stopped put the rebound went right to Joel Purdom who went top corner over Charlie Tritt to tie it up at one. Later in the frame on a 4 on 4 situation Willem Terwoord found Calvin Beard in the offensive zone, he made a move to the right and went top shelf for his second goal in as many games to give the Kings the one goal lead.
Up by one heading into the third the Kings had a perfect start the period scoring 43 seconds in when Christian Maro knocked in the puck which was sitting on the goal line after a Tritt save. The goal was his second of the season and gave the Kings a 3-1 lead. Langley got the Kings lead back to one at 3:24 off a deflection. Midway into the period Ryan Arnold made a great power move to the Rivermen net and scored to make it 4-2. However after a long discussion the referees waved the goal off due to goalie interference. What could’ve been a two goal lead remained one and gave the Rivermen a little more hope. Like the game before Langley would pull the goalie for the extra attacker late trying for the equalizer. Once again they would convert with under two minutes left when a shot deflected off the skate of Adyn Merrick and past Cooper Flemming and this game headed to OT.
In the extra period it was a back and forth possession battle. Nobody created many dangerous chances. With just over two minutes to go in OT the Riv waited patiently to the right chance. Adyn Merrick saw his chance a drove to the net, he went behind the net and wrapped it around and just managed to get it past the stretching pad of Flemming to to secure the OT win for Langley.
Flemming made 39 saves in the game while Calvin Beard picked up another two points to finish with four on the weekend.
The Kings take 3 of 4 points from the Rivermen and pick up points in 3 of 4 home games so far this season. Through six games the Kings have a record of 1-3-2-0.
Up next for the Kings they will take on the Cranbrook Bucks on Saturday October 12th. It is the only game of the week for the Kings and it is a 5pm start. Tickets are available online at tickets.powellriverkings.com
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