Komoka Kings, coming off of a 6-3 win two days ago in Sarnia, make it a double header win by defeating the Sarnia Legionnaires 2-1 at the Komoka Wellness Centre on Saturday night.
Kings came out strong and continuing from their play on Thursday to control the game in the early stages but were unable to get one past Legionnaires goalie Nolan DeKoning until a Sarnia penalty put the Kings on the power play and Chase Strychaluk scored his 8th of the season at 13:56 with assists from Spencer Lapointe and Joel Mazzilli. The game continued back and forth with the Legionnaires beginning to put pressure on the Kings but could not get one by Nathan Young in the Kings net. First period ended with a 14-12 edge on shots by the Kings and a 1-0 lead.
In the second period Legionnaires had several good chances but could not get one by the Kings strong defense until a Komoka penalty when the Legionnaires scored on the power play at 5:37 to tie the game. On another Komoka penalty midway in the second captain Joel Mazzilli scored short handed for a 2-1 Komoka lead – Mazzilli’s 23rd of the season with assist from Ryan McAllister and Kurt Watson. Period 2 ended 2-1 in favour of the Kings and a 9-8 shot advantage in the period by the Legionnaires.
Sarnia again started strong in the third period and had several good chances on a Kings interference penalty at 3:13 when the Kings penalty killing and strong defensive play stopped the Legionnaires attacks. Sarnia kept continuous pressure in the Kings end and taking 9 good shots on the Kings net while holding the Kings to no shots on the Legionnaires’ goalie in the period. Late in the game Kings had a couple of own-end clearing shots but were not able to hit the empty Sarnia net and taking a 2-1 victory.
Behind a strong defense Kings netminder Nathan Young stopped 29 of 30 Sarnia shots and earning his second Saturday night first star of the game honours. Ryan McAllister earned 2nd star and honourable mention to Joel Mazzilli with 2 points adding to his 5 points on Thursday, and Jacob Howard who played a solid game in limiting the Legionnaires to a single goal.
With the win the Kings move in to sole sixth position in the conference standings taking a 1 point margin over the 7th place Strathroy Rockets.
The game was designated as a Special Abilities Night with the Kings and Paralympic Gold Medalist Mark Ideson in attendance and to sign autographs, as well as the Golden Opportunities Assistance Dogs organization with their personal assistance dogs.
Kings next game is on Wednesday when they meet the first place London Nationals at the Western Fair Sports Centre, then on to St. Mary’s on Friday to take on the Lincolns, and home on Saturday against the Leamington Flyers at the Komoka Wellness Centre – 7:15 pm puck drop.
