Wednesday, December 8, 2010

GAME PREVIEW: KINGS at CHIEFS

Powell River Kings vs. Langley Chiefs
24-5-3-2              20-11-1-4

LAST 10: Kings-- 6-1-2-1 Chiefs-- 6-3-1-0

BIG STORY: This is the sixth meeting between the Kings and Chiefs and second in three games. The Kings have won three and tied one since dropping the opener 3-2 in overtime on October 15th. These two teams will meet two more times in the new year, both in Langley.

TEAM SCOPE

KINGS: Powell River recently has flexed their muscle over the Chiefs. The Kings have outscored the Chiefs 17-8 in five games, including holding them to only one goal on three occasions. Also Powell River has not surrendered a power-play goal to Langley, killing all 18 Chief opportunities. The Kings have been successful stooping Langley's explosive offense. The Chiefs have scored a staggering 151 goals which is tops in the BCHL yet only been able to muster eight against the Kings, three of which came in the first encounter.

If it ain't broke don't fix I imagine is the Kings mentality against the Chiefs. That is to keep doing what's made them so successful in the first five match ups.

CHIEFS: Langley has been up and down in recent weeks. The Chiefs are 3-2 in their last five and 2-1 to start the month of December.  They have started strong in the final month of the year, picking up a road win in Alberni Valley on Thursday before downing a hot Clippers team at home on Sunday.  That can help erase an auspicious end to November where they lost two of three and surrender 12 goals in that span. For the Chiefs to be successful against the Kings they will have to find ways to generate offense and early. In the last three defeats to the Kings and four games overall the have given up first period leads to Powell River. Also as mentioned above they will need to find a way to get production from their power-play.

Their success hinges on players like Matt Ius and Josh Myers producing against Powell River, which hasn't been the case so far.

Who's Hot: After a slower then expected start, Langley native, Carter Shinkaruk has four points in his last five games. The 19 year-old has scored once and added three helpers over that span.  Matt Garbowsky has scored in five straight games and has three goals and one assist in his last three games. Chad Niddery broke his 17 game scoring slump on Sunday and has five points in his last three games and is riding a five game assist streak. The third member of that trio, Dan Schuler, has picked up points in five consecutive games...No one is hotter on Langley then Brandon Thompson. The future RIT Tiger is riding a four game assist and six game point streak overall.

Stat Pack: Powell River hasn't lost in regulation on the road since October 23rd in Salmon Arm, that was a 3-2 setback. That's a record of 5-0-2-1. Langley is starting to feel comfortable at home as they do on the road. The Chiefs are 3-1-1 in their last five games at the Events Centre.

Injury Report: Cohen Adair and Andrew Pettitt remain out for the Kings. Mike Tebbutt and Mason Blacklock where no go's on Friday for Langley. It remains to be seen if they are healthy enough to return.

Puck Drop: Pre-game show at 6:45 play-by-play at 7pm on SUN FM.



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