For the second straight weekend, Powell River Kings hosted an Island Division opponent for a double header at Hap Parker Arena. However, the Kings were unable to match a sweep from a week prior, splitting a pair of games against the Victoria Grizzlies.
With a series of coastal winter storms descending on the Sunshine Coast, weather and subsequent ferry cancellations played havoc and impacted Victoria even before the puck was dropped. A 12-hour travel day, by way of Vancouver, meant a late arrival and shortened pre-game routine for the Grizzlies.
Powell River jumped on the visitors early and put together a solid opening period highlighted by Liam Lawson knocking down a Jake Kohlhauser point shot for his eighth of the season.
Jonny Evans added an early second period goal as Powell River poured on pressure and a dozen shots on goal before Victoria registered one of their own. Nick Halagian scored midway through the second before Tristan Mullin opened scoring in the third for a 4-0 lead.
Despite Victoria breaking the shutout attempt by Jeff Smith with three minutes remaining, Tristan Mullin added a highlight reel goal inside the final minute for a 5-1 victory. Smith earned his 14th win of the year by stopping 31 shots and Powell River earned its first victory against Victoria since game six of the Island Division playoffs last March.
“We knew it was pretty important to get on them right from the start because they might have had some bus legs, and we did that to begin the game,” said Mullin, who took on additional responsibility with the absence of five regulars, two from injury (Gavin Rauser and Nick Nonis) and three for a Canada West Selection Camp (Stefan Wornig, Kyle Betts and Carter Turnbull).
Kings head coach Kent Lewis said it was a relief to see his team play their style of game again.
“We had a span of a couple of weeks where we had to rediscover what it was to play to win,” said Lewis. “We played really well and I felt up to 3-0 we were in total control. After that it got a bit frantic and we started to give up a few opportunities.”
On Sunday, the teams faced each other for the fifth time this season and third time in Powell River. Unlike Saturday, the Kings were unable to score first and fell behind 2-0 midway through the second period. Austin Kamer scored on a wrap around at 14:01; the goal was immediately followed by a scrum in front of the Victoria net resulting in penalties for both teams and a power play for Victoria.
Grizzlies added another in the second period and an empty netter in the third for a 4-1 win, their fourth victory against the Kings this season. Smith took the loss in net, stopping 31 shots.
“We did generate our chances to score goals and got some good stuff to the net with back door tap-ins, which we didn’t bare down on,” said Kings assistant Brock Sawyer. “Our effort level wasn’t there and tonight we took a back seat to a team who came out strong and wanted it more.”
Sunday’s game also marked the second early bird draw for Powell River Kings Dream Lottery. Alain LeClerc, father of Kings’ defenceman Jeremy, won $7,500.
With 29 games played, the Kings are at the midway point of the 2015/2016 season with a record of 17-11-0-1. The team remains third in Island Division standings, one point behind Cowichan and eight points behind Nanaimo, with games in hand over both.
Kings entertain Trail on Friday and Merritt on Saturday at Hap Parker Arena, closing out a six-game home stand and the home portion of the pre-Christmas schedule. Both games start at 7:15 pm.
Kings notes:
Former Powell River Kings forward Daniel Carr made his NHL debut for Montreal Canadiens on Saturday against Carolina Hurricanes. Carr scored on his first shot, opening the scoring at 2:44 of the first period.
