The Powell Kings came from behind to take the lead in the third period in game four of the Island Division Final, but Victoria scored just 33 seconds into overtime and tied the series at two.
The Kings opened the scoring in game four when Kyle Betts had the puck in the right-wing corner. He cut towards the middle of the ice, through two defenders and fired a shot through Matthew Galajda’s five hole just 2:19 into the game.
The Grizzlies answered back in the back half of the period, however. First it was Lucas Clark taking a long saucer pass from Drayson Pears while heading to the goal. He was able to tap a backhand shot through Brian Wilson’s five hole to tie the game with 5:10 left in the period.
Just 1:21 later while shorthanded, two Kings defenders went to hit the same Grizzlies player as they gained the line and it resulted in Shawn O’Malley having a short breakaway. O’Malley was stopped, but TJ Friedmann was able tuck the rebound in to give the Grizzlies the lead after one period.
Early in the second the Grizzlies took advantage of a bad change by the Kings. Nick Guiney and Keyvan Mokhitari came in on a 2-on-0 rush and Guiney scored to make it 3-1 Victoria.
Just over two minutes later Carter Turnbull cut it down to a one-goal game when he wired a wrist shot past Galajda off the rush from the right circle for his third of the playoffs.
Just like in game three, the Kings found themselves trailing by a single goal heading into the final period. And just like in game three, Betts tied the game. Callum Volpe let a one timer go from the blue line and Betts deflected it past Galajda for his second of the game 1:59 into the period. It was the first power-play goal of the series for the Kings.
Cam Donaldson scored when he fired a perfectly-placed wrist shot over Galajda’s glove right off a face-off to give the Kings the lead again, but it lasted just 35 seconds.
Friedmann scored his second of the game when a centring pass from below the goal line came to the side of the goal. Wilson had the pad down and stopped the first jam attempt, but didn’t see the rebound sitting right in the crease and Friedmann tapped home his second to tie things up.
In overtime, it took just 33 seconds for the Grizzlies to win. Off a face-off on Wilson’s glove side, Tyler Welsh pushed it through Jonny Evans’ legs before centring for Guiney.
Guiney faked forehand and went backhand past an outstretched Wilson to tie the series at two games apiece.
Game five of the series goes Thursday night at the Q Centre in Victoria at 7:00.
