SERIES- The Kings will have to put last night's heart breaking loss in overtime behind them. The way the game ended was something you rarely see and I haven't seen in my broadcasting career. A win tonight would split the first four games and give home ice back to the Kings.
TEAM PULSE
VICTORIA- The Grizzlies are riding high after back to back overtime wins in games two and three. Victoria rallied in the third period to tie the game on redirect by Madison Dias with just over six minutes left. That period saw the Grizz throw everything at the Kings.
Late in the gameVictoria was buzzing in the Kings zone looking for the equalizer. Victoria had three or four minutes of continual pressure on Powell River. The sequences in the Kings zone involved a lot of blocked shots and great saves by Mike Garteig. Give credit though to Victoria has they kept pressing and finally tied the game. However it wasn't all rosey for the home side.
The first period was something we didn't see in game two as the Kings controlled the tempo and won the majority of the puck battles. It wasn't until the third period when the Grizzlies awoke and turned it on. They know they won't get away with that two nights in a row.
Lets be honest, the overtime session wasn't their best either as the Kings controlled the puck in their zone especially with the cycle. The Kings had their chances to win the game and were on the opposite end of a crazy bounce on the winning goal. Victoria looked tired as they went with a short bench for most of the third and overtime. One wonders if that will catch up to them tonight.
POWELL RIVER- The Kings will have to play the way that's given them so much success this season and that is playing hard and playing simple.
Powell River did just that in the opening twenty minutes and for long stretches in the second but for some reason it wasn't there in the third. That period saw Powell River back off on their usually tenacious fore check and were guilty of giving the Grizzlies too much time and space coming through the neutral zone. The Grizz were given plenty of room to stretch it out across the blue line and in turn created one too many odd man rushes.
Tonight the Kings will have to be better. I would expect a team that is quite frankly, pissed off. This team will have a chip on their shoulde tonight. With what has transpired in the past two games the teams looks like it's fostering an us against the world mentality and I wouldn't blame them one bit for feeling that way.
WHO'S HOT: With his goal last night, Andrew Pettitt now moves into a tie for first in team scoring with Chad Niddery, both have four points. Craig Dalrymple's assist last night gives him three points in as many games. Dustin Johnson now has two goals in as many games for the Grizzies.
PUCK DROP: Pre-game goes at 6:55 puck drop is a 7:10pm. I shall see if I can get Victoria Cougars Head Coach, Mark Van Helvoirt on the broadcast.
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