Tuesday, March 22, 2011

GAME 4 PREVIEW: Kings vs. Eagles


SERIES: The Kings took back home ice advantage last night with a 3-2 win in game three. Mike Garteig made 37 saves including 24 in the third period alone to preserve the win. The Kings out shot the Eagles
28-13 after two periods and lead 3-0. However the Kings were caught on their heels in the third when Surrey scored twice and were out shot 26-6.

TEAM SCOPE

Kings- The team will need to find a way to execute for a full sixty minutes tonight in game four. It's been a reoccurring problem this post season for Powell River. At times this team can look dominant and almost unbeatable and at other times look nervous and up tight. The Kings have been caught playing not to lose rather just going out to and playing how they have in the regular season.

There were plenty of positives to take out of game three including a noticeable turn around on the power-play. The Kings scored on their first power-play when a Craig Dalrymple point shot deflected off Chadd Niddery. In the second the Kings increased their lead to two when Jon Jutzi put a howitzer past Karel St. Laurent's glove. At one point mid way through the game the Kings were two for three with the man advantage and finished two for five on the power-play. More of the same will be needed tonight.

The team looked rock solid defensively going into the third period. The Eagles were continually turned back as the Kings gave them nothing up the middle in the first two periods. However as mentioned, the team was caught on their heels in the third. The forwards were giving too much time and space to Eagle forwards coming across the blue line and that resulted in the Kings running around in their own  zone. The fore check and neutral zone pressure needs to be sustained for an entire game tonight.


Eagles- Matt Erhart's club inconsistent in game 3. The Eagles took forty minutes before life was breathed back into their game. Early on Surrey was guilty of one too many turn overs at or near their own blue line. Credit the Kings fore check for being aggresive and causing problems for the Eagles defense. Surrey will be treating this game as a must win, as they don't want to be headed back to Powell River down 3-1 in the Conference Finals.

For whatever reason home ice hasn't been so friendly for Surrey in the playoffs. In six games at the South Surrey Arena the Eagles are only 3-3. You have to go back to game two against Langley in round two for their last win at the SSA.

Tonight will be all about the start and compete level for the Eagles. They have plenty on the line tonight and will need to leave it all on the ice to even the series.

WHO'S HOT: After having a quiet round two against Victoria, Matt Garbowsky is starting to come around. Garbowsky had two assists last night and now has three points in his last two games. Chad Niddery continues to score goals in the playoffs. Known more for his play making ability, Niddery picked up his seventh goal of the post season last night. Jon Jutzi is developing into the Kings go to point man on the power-play. Jutzi now has four power-play goals and is one goal shy of regular season total of six.

Richard Vanderhoek continues to put up points in this series. Vanderhoek scored his 11th goal last night and now has four points in three games against the Kings. Brad McGowan's apple in game three gives him points in back to back games and so too for Tyler Morley.

STAT PACK: Last night's third period shot total was the highest for any opposition this season against the Kings. Powell River rarely gave up over 25 shots in a game let alone in one period.

PUCK DROP: Pre-game show gets going at 6:45pm with puck drop scheduled for 7:03pm

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