Forget about the past because as of now every BC Hockey League playoff team is in first place.
Even the Powell River Kings, who finished 25 points behind first round opponent Victoria Grizzlies, are relishing the underdog role and eager to get going.
Despite starting this series on the road, if the Kings can steal a win at Bear Mountain Arena home ice advantage switches to Powell River where the Kings have been very successful.
The shortened best-of-five game format is also a recipe for upsets like the one Powell River could have suffered against the Grizzlies two years ago.
Victoria would have walked away winners 3-1 but fortunately the Kings came back to win a thriller in the seventh game and move on.
Another reason for optimism was the performance of the Kings in their last game of the regular schedule compared to the Grizzlies’ loss to Alberni Valley Bulldogs to extend their winless streak to six games.
Goaltender Jonah Imoo made several key saves to record his fifth shutout of the year as the Kings trounced Cowichan Valley Capitals 7-0.
Special teams were on display as the powerplay clicked for four goals in 10 tries and penalty killers were flawless against 10 Cowichan chances including four five-on-three opportunities.
In fact, when down two men, Kings punctuated their shorthanded masterpiece when Matt Joyaux stepped out of the penalty box, picked up a clearing pass and scored with a low shot on the breakaway.
His shorthanded goal at 10:10 of the third period came after others scored by Landon Robin with two and singles by Matt Scarth, JP Villeneuve and Evan Richardson, but the cherry on the cake was the last one by Jordan Paddock.
Acknowledged to be one of the best shot-blockers and defenders of his own net in two years with the Kings, Paddock had yet to score.
In a situation very similar to Jason Yee’s goal a couple of years ago, when he scored his first with 40 seconds to go, on a feed from Matt Garbowsky in the last game, Paddock and Richardson hooked up late against Cowichan at 19:34.
With a huge grin Paddock said, “They threw me out on the powerplay up front and I was psyched. I didn’t really know what I was doing so I just started going to the net and Richie did everything. He deked out a few guys and gave me a feed in front of the net and it was easy to put home.”
His goal capped off a great game for the entire team but his defensive self kicked in saying, “We were all over them tonight and it was nice to get the shutout too.”
Captain Teagan Waugh spoke with guarded optimism. “We wanted to get some confidence before the playoffs,” he said, “so winning our last regular season game was a big confidence boost for us.”
Of the pending series against Victoria, the playoff veteran said, “It’s a little different obviously having to be away. We never really started a series on the road before. We don’t consider ourselves underdogs at all and we’re excited to play the first place Grizzlies. We think we’re a good matchup for them.”
The series gets underway in Victoria on Friday, March 15 and Saturday March 16 then moves to Hap Parker Arena at 7 pm on both Monday, March 18 and Tuesday, March 19 if necessary.
DIVISION: Interior Division
TEAM GP W L T OTL PTS
y- Penticton 56 35 16 0 5 75
x- W. Kelowna 56 30 13 4 9 73
x- Merritt 56 31 17 3 5 70
x- Salmon Arm 56 26 24 2 4 58
Trail 56 26 28 0 2 54
Vernon 56 21 25 1 9 52
DIVISION: Island Division
TEAM GP W L T OTL PTS
y- Victoria 56 33 13 0 10 76
x- Nanaimo 56 32 20 0 4 68
x- Alberni Valley 56 29 20 2 5 65
x- Powell River 56 20 25 2 9 51
Cowichan Valley 56 13 35 1 7 34
DIVISION: Mainland Division
TEAM GP W L T OTL PTS
t- Surrey 56 35 13 3 5 78
x- Chilliwack 56 33 21 1 1 68
x- Prince George 56 25 22 1 8 59
x- Langley 56 24 26 1 5 54
Coquitlam 56 24 31 1 0 49
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