After scoreboard watching for the better part of the week, Powell River Kings finally know where and who they are playing in the BC Hockey League’s Island Division best-of-seven series final.
Victoria Grizzlies, after falling behind 1-4 in game seven against the Alberni Bulldogs on Wednesday, came back to win in double overtime 5-4. They were down three games to one in the series and clawed their way back to victory.
Victoria won the right to host the first two games when they captured first place in the division on the last day of the regular season schedule, finishing with one more win and two more points than Powell River. Against each other they scored the same amount of goals and points.
After the two games in Victoria on Friday and Saturday, the series comes to Hap Parker Arena on Monday, March 17 and Tuesday, March 18. Both games start at 7 pm.
Kings sail on to second round
Five games seal the deal
Powell River Kings were home for the start of their best of seven series against Nanaimo Clippers and they took full advantage by winning game one last Tuesday, March 4, 3-2 and game two Wednesday, March 5, 3-1.
The first game started on shaky footing when King’s centreman Luke Nogard took a penalty off the opening faceoff just nine seconds into the game.
Nanaimo further quieted the fans with the first two goals but the Kings rattled off three straight by Cole Arcuri, Matt Scarth and Lucas Grayson while Jeff Smith recorded his first BC Hockey League playoff win with 28 saves.
“Getting down by two was tough,” said coach and general manager Kent Lewis. “We know we weren’t good enough and we have to be better. But winning is everything at this time of year and puck possession, especially late, was really good and that’s what we have to continue to do.”
The importance of winning the opener was not lost on the team.
“First games are huge,” said Scarth. “It’s kind of like a tone setter for the series. It’s going to be a battle, we have to tighten up the d-zone and capitalize on more opportunities and tomorrow should be a good game.”
Scarth turned out to be a pretty good prognosticator when the Kings jumped out to a 3-0 lead in game two on goals from Ryan Scarfo, Kurt Keats and Jarryd Leung before giving up a very late goal to Nanaimo.
Just like the first game, tenacious forechecking in the last minute prevented Nanaimo from pulling their goalie for an extra attacker.
Over to Nanaimo for game three on Friday where the Kings suffered a bit of a letdown and lost for the first time in the series 5-1.
Trailing 5-0, Kings put Jonah Imoo in for Smith with eight minutes to go and JJ Coleshaw’s late goal was the only bright light in an otherwise dark 5-1 final.
Game four was a crucial one and both teams played their best game thus far.
Kings got the jump on the Clippers with goals from Grayson and Scarfo but a late powerplay goal from Nanaimo made it 2-1 at the end of the first period.
Clippers got the tying goal in the second period and the 2-2 deadlock continued through to the middle of the final period.
At that time the series turned when Smith flashed the leather to stop a blast from Nanaimo’s top scorer Brendan Taylor who put both hands on his helmet in frustration.
On the very next rush down the ice, King’s Brendyn Smith let a slapshot go that careened off the end boards and out to Coleshaw who one-timed the game winner and most pivotal goal in the series.
From there, the Kings once again shut the door on Nanaimo to bring the series back to Powell River leading 3-1.
A loud crowd of 782 was treated to a great game five that featured hard hitting, controversial refereeing and a bunch of goals.
Clippers scored twice on the powerplay to take a 2-0 lead after one period but Kings’ Drew Dorantes and Scarth each got powerplay goals to tie 2-2 early in the second.
Both sides added one more in the second to make it 3-3 and fans anxiously awaited the showdown in the final period.
Kings broke the game open in the third on a nice backhand effort from Leung at 7:11 and then an insurance goal from Curtis McCarrick at 10:59 to make the final 5-3.
Lewis said, “the start wasn’t ideal and their powerplay was lights out which was good on them and bad on us. But we were resolute in our game plan and what we had to do and we got some timely goals with two from Leung.”
The game was a thriller and the energy from the boisterous crowd was not lost on the Kings.
“It’s a special time of year and you just don’t take it for granted,” said Lewis. “Our kids felt the energy of the crowd tonight and that makes a difference for them and it was very nice to see on a Monday night.”
Fortunately the playoffs and excitement will continue however the schedule will be dictated by the outcome of the Victoria Grizzlies versus Alberni Valley series which is currently 3-2 in favour of the Bulldogs.
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