Monday Morning Rewind



Powell River came home from their road trip with a bad taste in their mouth. The team started off well with wins over Westside and Trail. However the pair of losses over the weekend has this team in a rut.

• The 4-1 setback in Penticton is disappointing, no question. However what bothers the coaches was what the Vees were allowed to do all game. The Kings let the Vees dictate the game and how it was played. The coaches stressed being physical and not giving Penticton time and space, however that is exactly what the Kings did.
• The game wasn't all lost, the Kings did score on their second shot, less the two minutes in, on a power-play. The team looked strong and poised, however they seemed to unfold when the Vees scored just 15 seconds into the second. The mental toughness wasn't their for Powell River on Saturday.
• The once almost unbeatable penalty-kill to some lumps and bruises over the week. The Kings were stung for six power-play goals against in the last three games. Trail scored all three of their goals on the mad advantage. Vernon scored the opening and winning goals on power-play and Pentincton scored once as well. The penalty-kill is still first overall, but has slipped down to 88 percent. Furthermore Salmon Arm has passed the Kings on the road for penalty-kill percentage.
• Lost in the weekend was Dan Schuler snapping a 12 game scoreless mark on Wednesday in Trail and he did it in style too. Schuler scored two goals, in consecutive fashion in the 5-3 win. In his last visit to the Cominco Arena in Trail, Schuler had a hat trick. That was in pre-season action.
• The Kings seemed to miss Brenden Forbes down the middle. Forbes did not play last week as he was recovering from the upper body injury he suffered the morning of the Surrey game on January 14th. The third line wasn't the same and will greatly welcome his presence back tomorrow.
• I would not use this as an excuse, but maybe a factor for Saturday's loss. Eight Kings were writing their SAT exams the morning of the Penticton game. Those players were up at 6am for a ride into Penticton from Kelowna. Then they had to write the exam in four hours then get shuttled back to Kelowna for the teams pre-game meal and back for the game. That's a tough task.
• Penticton is back in Powell River tomorrow for the back half of the home and home. The Kings I'm sure will have Saturday's loss on their minds and will like to give Penticton a better impression on how they play. If you are looking for a game to go to this week, I would circle tomorrow's contest.
• Powell River is 14 points up on Surrey for first and only need five points in their remaining 12 games to clinch first place in the Coastal Conference. Don't think the team will let their foot off the gas the rest of the way though. This team is mad and will be out to prove they are the best in the BCHL.