Tuesday, March 15, 2011

GAME 6 PREVIEW: Kings vs. Grizzlies

SERIES: Jon Jutzi’s goal 11:11 into overtime gave the Kings a dramatic 3-2 win in game five at a loud Hap Parker Arena. It could have been much different as Dustin Johnson scored with 1:01 left in third to tie the game and force the next goal wins scenario.
The Kings will to get their first win on the road this post season tonight in game six to force game a return trip home tomorrow night.
TEAM PULSE
Kings: It was the Kings best effort thus far in the series in game five. Powell River looked like the 46 win team in the regular season the way the controlled the puck and gave little, if at all anything to the Grizzlies.  Powell River held Victoria to just 19 shots; that’s including the eleven minutes of overtime.
The Kings were much more effective when in the Victoria zone as the worked the puck down low very well and generated chances off the cycle.  Even more impressive was the fact all four lines got involved early giving some much needed jump to their game.
What was also encouraging was their depth was a factor as the game wore on. This was evident in they got a goal from three different lines.  Andrew Pettitt scored his second of the playoffs and Carter Shinkaruk scored his second goal in as many games. It was Garbowky’s line on the ice for Jutzi’s goal as Chad Niddery made a nice drop pass at the blue line.
The Kings were much better in the face-off circle when it counted.  Steven Schmidt was clutch winning draws late in the third and in overtime.  Garbowsky was good on the power-play and in the offensive zone and Brendan Forbes and Brendan Hawryluk were sound.
Lastly, the penalty-kill did surrender one goal but nutted up late in the third and in overtime when Chris Williams was in the box. Just three minutes after the kill the game was over. The PK can provide a momentum swing and that was evident last night.
Grizzlies: As the cliché goes the fourth game is always the hardest to win. The Grizzlies knew that coming in as Vic Gervais touched on that in our pre-game show.  Saying that, the Grizz’ were still just one shot away from ending the series and moving on to the Coastal Conference Finals.
When Dustin Johnson scored with 61 seconds some might have thought it wasn’t meant to be for the Kings.  Victoria was back on their heels for the majority of the game but did a good job at hanging around and keeping the game close enough for a Johnson’s tally.
Matt Ginn was the story last night for the Grizzlies. The work horse in the Victoria net face shot after shot but kept his team within one goal right down to the wire. Ginn stopped 48 of 51 King shots, including eight in overtime before Jutzi’s marker. He will be called upon again tonight to provide another performance like last night.
WHOS’S HOT: Chad Niddery’s two assists last night gives him seven points in five games. Niddery has gotten on the score sheet in all but one game this series.  Jutzi’s goal gives him two in the series and both almost in identical spots. Carter Shinkaruk now has two goals in the playoffs, both coming in the last two games. Andrew Pettitt is doing more than blocking shots. The veteran winger scored his second of the playoffs and sits second in team scoring with five points.
Dustin Johnson is the thorn in the Powell River Kings side. The twenty year-old from Penticton scored his third goal against the Kings in the series and has nine in the playoffs. David Morley followed his five point game four performance with assists on both Grizzlies goals. Morley has seven points in two games.
STAT PACK: Niddery is averaging about 1.4 points per game. That is just slightly less than his pace in the regular season. Niddery’s 86 points in 60 games was an average of 1.43 points per game.
PUCK DROP: Face-off is 7:10pm with the pre-game show starting at 6:55pm on SUN FM. Don’t forget the Kings are showing the game on the big screen in the Evergreen Theatre at the Rec Plex. Contact Elise at the Kings office for the details.

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