Weekend Rewind

The Kings have an off day after playing three games in two and half days. They did take the home and home with Victoria before falling a goal short against Surrey yesterday afternoon at the Hap. Here is my review of the weekend.

Saturday

Kings vs. Grizzlies

Bear Mountain Arena

On the back of a three goals and four points from Matt Garbowsky, the Kings swept the home and home with a 4-2 win over Victoria. However, just like Friday, the Grizzlies scored the first goal.

It is an odd trend so far this season, as four out of the first five games, the Kings have conceded the first goal. On this night, it was Madison Dias scoring 11:47 into the opening frame. Powell River did draw even before the period closed out, courtesy of Matt Garbowsky's first of the night at 15:07. Powell River would take over in the second.

The Kings scored two goals in the first three and half minutes to start the middle period and never looked back after that. Garbowsky got things going with his second of the night, fourth of the season, just thirty seconds in. Andrew Pettitt, followed with his first of the season, on the power-play, at 3:32. Victoria did respond midway through the second.

Evan Richardson, a 16 year-old rookie out of Nanaimo, scored his first BCHL goal at 7:57 to bring his team within one. Then the "TSN Turning Point" followed soon after.

Wade Murphy managed to slip behind the Kings defense and was sprung on a break-away blueline in, however, he was robbed by a spectacular left pad save by Mike Garteig.

-Que air be deflated out of Victoria's sails.

Shots after two: 26-14 Powell River

The third period play was hampered by warm conditions in the building and soft ice. From my broadcast

location, you could actually see a heavy fog develop on the ice, just as you saw in the 70's with the Sabres and Flyers. Talking to a few Kings after the game, they all pointed to the fact it was hard to see, as their visors were constantly fogging up.

Matt Garbowsky put the nail into the coffin so to speak, scoring his hat-trick goal on a 5-4 power-play with just twenty eight second left in the game.

Final score: Powell River 4 Victoria 2

Shots: 33-20 Kings

3 Stars: 1) Matt Garbowsky 2) Matt Gin 3) Dan Schuler.

Sunday

Surrey vs. Kings

Hap Parker Arena

This afternoon contest was, at times, a wide open affair. You can point directly to the eleven goals scored in the game as a prime example. However, in my opinion, it was the number of chances, results of errant passes and poor execution by both times, as the most telling tale. That trend would end up costing Powell River two points.

Coming into the contest, Surrey was red hot. The Eagles had scored fifteen goals in their previous two games and their power-play was also humming along. Surrey's power-play was operating at just under thirty seven percent, second only to Powell River.

The Eagles top line of Richard Vanderhoek, Jeff Vanderlugt and Brad McGowan collected 23 points in their previous two wins over Nanaimo and Cowichan Valley. So it could be said they were red hot.

I'm not going to delve into every goal, as it would take all day to talk about eleven goals. However, in the 6-5 Surrey win, it could be said that Powell River beat themselves.

Chatting with Head Coach, Kent Lewis, he cited that the majority of Surrey's goals were due to errant passes, poor coverage or bad decisions by his team. From a coaching perspective, there is no need for panic.

That's it for me, have a good Monday.