Kings Capitalize Early On Blades

By Wyatt Williams

The Dresden Kings took full advantage of a couple defensive zone turnovers to jump out to a 2-0 lead early in the first period in Blenheim.

Two minutes into the game, Dresden forward Chandler Glassford picked a Blades defender of the puck near the blue line and went in on goaltender Jake Vancoillie alone and scored to put the visiting into the lead. Shortly after that, with 13:52 showing on the clock, another turnover allowed Kings Jack McAlpine to put them up by 2-0.

Early in the second while on the power play, Blades forward Tyler Ewald would narrow the lead to a 2-1 score. Later in the period, with 3:48 showing, Dresden’s Shane Depelsmaker would score on the power play to give the Kings a 3-1 lead heading into the third.

With just under 4 minutes remaining in the game Dresden’s Jace Leach took a boarding penalty to put the Blades on the power play. Blenheim opted to pull their goaltender for the extra attacker, and 19 seconds into the penalty Kings Tyler Simon tripped a Blades forward entering the zone to put his team down two men. Kings goaltender Owen Lemieux made a couple clutch saves to preserve his teams 3-1 lead for the win.

The game was a typical game between the two long time rivals, with a fair number of off setting penalties and chippy play at times. Both teams are on the road for their next games, with Dresden in Essex on Tuesday, and Blenheim in Petrolia on Thursday.