CHILLIWACK, B.C. – The Powell River Kings knew there would be some bumps in the road.
But they hit a deep pothole Wednesday afternoon in the form of the Coquitlam Express.
The Express, who had one win going into the game, doubled the Kings 6-3 during the BCHL showcase at Chilliwack’s Prospera Centre.
It was the Kings’ first loss of the campaign.
Powell River bounced back at mid-morning Friday at Prospera, posting a 2-1 victory over the Trail Smoke Eaters.
The win and loss at the Showcase gave the Kings a 4-1 record.
Coquitlam Express 6, Kings 3
The Express built a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes and made it 3-0 at the 2:19 mark of the middle frame before the Kings’ Neal Samanski got his team the board with a power play marker 7:46 into the frame.
But the Express added three more goals to the Kings’ one to carry a 5-2 lead into the third period.
The teams exchanged goals in the final frame to end the night’s scoring.
Samanski, Christian Buono, and Ben Thomas scored the Kings’ goals.
A balanced Express attack saw four different players find the twine.
Kings 2, Trail Smoke Eaters 1
The Kings erased a 1-0, first period deficit with goals from Ryan Brushett and Liam Lytton during the second period.
Brushett’s tying goal came just 1:01 after the puck was dropped to start the period.
Lytton tallied the winner 11:22 into the period.
The third period was scoreless.
Mitch Adamyk stopped 22 of 23 shots to earn the win.
The Kings have seven days off before heading south to Victoria’s Q Centre to play the Grizzlies next Friday, Sept. 28 at Hap Parker Arena. Game time is 7 p.m.
The next night, the Kings are in Nanaimo’s Frank Crane Arena, where they will play the Clippers, also at 7 p.m.
