The Powell River Kings registered a season-low 14 shots on goal and are now down 0-2 in their best-of-seven BCHL Semi Final series against the Prince George Spruce Kings, following a 5-1 loss in game 2 on Saturday night.
An entertaining and tightly contested opening frame saw the Kings take the game to Prince George at point, and despite trailing in the shot totals 9-6 the Kings likely felt largely positive about their response in the first period. However the wheels fell off in the offensive zone in the second period as the Kings were only credited for three shots on goal in the entire period, while surrendering three down the other end. The scoreless contest was broken midway through via Blake Hayward to make it 1-0. Patrick Cozzi and Ethan deJong scored on back to back shots late in the period to get the home team out to a 3-0 advantage through 40. Shots 24-9 Prince George.
The third period didn’t see much more from Powell River despite some great chances that went unrewarded. Carter Turnbull fired over the goal on a one-timer, Andy Stevens attempted to skate the puck in to generate offence and Ben Berard misfired. Prince George got out to a 5-0 lead via Ben Brar and Dustin Manz less than 3 minutes into the period before Jack Long skated end to end and beating Evan DeBrouwer from the goal line on a shot upstairs, his 1st of the playoffs and it was 5-1.
Final shots on goal read 33-14 in favour of the home town Spruce Kings, as the Kings ‘better’ their 19 shots on goal against Wenatchee from back in October. Matteo Paler-Chow was pulled following the 5-0 goal, stopping 22/27 in 42:40, with Derek Krall playing clean up duties and stopping 6/6 in his 17:20 of ice time. Special teams was again a factor, with Powell River giving up 8 powerplays to the Spruce Kings, for 3 goals, while the Kings went 0/2 against the Spruce Kings.
The teams travel back to Powell River on Sunday ahead of Monday’s game 3 at the Hap Parker Arena, a 7:00pm puck drop. Tickets are available at http://tickets.powellriverkings.com/
