Given the big holes they had to fill in the lineup this year, it’s not too surprising to see Powell River Kings frustrated by the results of their first road trip of the year.
Three tight losses, 3-2 on Friday in Victoria, 3-1 Saturday in Nanaimo and 4-3 in overtime Sunday in Port Alberni, however, means they are close but need to tighten up certain areas.
As it is, discipline, defensive lapses and the dreaded buzzer beater all worked to send the Kings home with a single point to show for their efforts.
Kings had a 2-1 lead in the third period on goals from Matt Dupont and Matt Scarth but Victoria Grizzlies tied 2-2 at 12:07.
Kings had just killed a five-on-three Victoria power play when a neutral zone turnover was picked up by Leo Fitzgerald. He stepped over the Kings’ blue line and let a slapshot go that trickled through Jonah Imoo’s legs.
The referee, who was positioned behind the net, emphatically signalled that the puck had indeed crossed the line with 0.6 of a second on the clock.
In the blink of an eye Kings had to board the bus with no points and a date with Nanaimo Clippers the very next night.
They bounced back with some pretty good energy and deserved the 1-0 lead they had after two periods on a goal from newcomer Matt Joyaux. The 18-year-old defenceman, who has a commitment to Miami University and arrived on Wednesday, pinched in on a power play with a hard shot from the high slot.
Kings played well with the lead but skated into trouble on their five-minute power play.
Nanaimo had already taken a number of hit-to-the-head, boarding and checking-from-behind penalties, a strategy very similar to last year, targeting smaller Kings players.
Like the first game last year, Evan Richardson was the victim of several of them including one at centre ice that charged Chris Newton with a blow to the head and a game misconduct.
On this five-minute power play, however, Kings were called with a too-many-men penalty and in the ensuing four on four Nanaimo struck for two goals in 24 seconds. They added a third goal three minutes later and held on to defeat the Kings 3-1.
Kings barely had time to dry out their gear and throw it back on as they visited Port Alberni Bulldogs Sunday afternoon.
The rested Bulldogs, who had enjoyed a day off after beating Cowichan Valley Capitals 8-7 in overtime on Friday, were licking their chops at the prospect of playing the tired Kings.
They jumped on Powell River early to lead the game 2-0 after the first period and then added a third goal on the power play in the second.
Kings’ starter in goal Braeden Ostepchuk actually made some great saves to keep the score down and his teammates gave him some hope for the win when they clawed back to tie 3-3.
Scarth and JP Villeneuve scored back-to-back goals very late in the second period and then Villeneuve added another in the third to send the game into overtime.
A single point would be it though as the Kings had to kill a penalty in the extra five minutes before surrendering the winning goal at 2:40.
One point in six games just isn’t going to cut it for a team that prides itself on its road record.
Certainly, Kings were in every one of the games but this young team needs some time to learn and mature.
In the meantime, injured defenceman Brandan Smith is very close to returning to the lineup while suspended forward Teal Burns has still failed to report.
Volunteers of the year last year, Louise Williams of Dominion Lending Centres and Barry Kostorus of Priority One Heating & Cooling Ltd., are sponsoring a beef dip dinner and beverage for free to everyone buying a ticket to the Kings’ home opener against Cowichan at 7:30 pm on Saturday, September 22 at Hap Parker Arena. Doors open at 6 pm. Kings’ doubleheader against the Capitals continues at 1:30 pm on Sunday.
