[UPDATE: Wednesday, March 22]
Powell River Kings and Victoria Grizzles are now tied at two games each in the BC Hockey League Island Division final.
Victoria defeated Powell River 5-4 in overtime on Tuesday, March 21, before a crowd of 1,061 fans; the winning goal came just 33 seconds into the extra period. Kings goals were scored by Kyle Betts, with two, Cam Donaldson and Carter Turnbull.
Grizzlies outshot Kings 41 to 33.
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Before a hometown playoff hockey crowd of 1,019 fans, Powell River Kings came back and edged Victoria Grizzlies 2-1 in a game on Monday, March 20, that could have gone either way. With the win, Kings took a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven BC Hockey League (BCHL) Island Division final.
The series opened with the Kings winning 3-2 in double overtime, then losing 4-0 in the second game.
Fans in Powell River and Victoria are being treated to some great hockey, according to Kings head coach Kent Lewis.
“This series, right now, is probably the toughest series going,” said Lewis. “Our guys feel it, sense it and it’s special.”
In Monday’s game, Grizzlies opened the scoring in the second period. Kyle Betts tied the game in the third with his first goal of the playoffs, assisted by Tristan Mullin.
Kings’ high-scoring line of Jonny Evans, Ben Berard and Cam Donaldson combined for the winning goal, with Evans and Berard drawing assists on Donaldson’s third goal of the playoffs. The trio has accounted for 10 of their team’s 22 goals so far in post-season play.
Lewis said he liked the King’s first period start, with his team outshooting the Grizzlies 16 to 8. By the end of the game, the shots had almost evened out with 35 for the Kings and 38 for the Grizzlies.
Two of the three games in the series have been goaltending battles between two of the BCHL’s top three playoff goaltenders. While Kings goalie Brian Wilson was named first star Monday, Victoria’s netminder kept his team in the game and was recognized as the third star.
“He played really well,” said Lewis. “You have to keep at it. He was the difference for them. We knew that coming into this series.”
On Saturday, March 18, Victoria shut out the Kings 4-0. Lewis started Wilson, but after allowing two goals he was pulled and replaced by Mitch Adamyk.
“We just had a bad game Saturday,” said Lewis. “You’re not going to win every game in the playoffs. You’re going to have a game that is not a good night and that was our Saturday.”
In the series opener on Friday, March 17, Kings defenceman and Powell River native Jack Long came up big by scoring two goals. Evans scored the overtime winner.
After three meetings, Lewis said his team’s power play needs some adjustment. Out of 29 opportunities in the playoffs, Kings are operating at only a
17.2 per cent.
The series is everything the Kings expected, with both teams displaying tight checking, discipline and great goaltending, said Lewis.
“It’s going to be a tough fight,” he added.
Results from game four of the series on Tuesday, March 21, were not available at press time. The teams return to Victoria for game five at 7 pm on Thursday, March 23.
Game six takes place in Powell River at 5 pm on March 25, and if necessary, game seven starts at 7 pm in Victoria on Monday, March 27.
