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Kings win 2-1 game three thriller over Victoria

The Powell River Kings dropped game two 4-0 against Victoria in the Island Division Final and were looking for a bounce-back performance. That’s exactly what they got as Kyle Betts and Cam Donaldson scored in the third to give the Kings a 2-1 win and a 2-1 series lead.

Much like Victoria did in game two, the Kings came out with an excellent start and took it to the Grizzlies in the early going of game three. The Kings outshot the Grizzlies 16-8 in the opening frame which included a five-on-three power play for a little over a minute, but the game was scoreless after 20.

It was more of the same in the second period, one of the best Kings chances came after Curtis McCarrick came out of the penalty box and had a partial break, but Matthew Galajda stretched out his left pad and made the save to keep the game scoreless.

Despite constant pressure by Powell River, it was the Grizzlies opening the scoring. After Cole Pickup was knocked off the puck, it rolled towards the slot where Jamie Rome gathered it before spinning and firing into the top corner over Brian Wilson’s glove. The goal came with just 4:03 left in the third, resulting in the Kings trailing 1-0 after 40.

Kyle Betts tied the game with his first of the playoffs after a failed clear by the Grizzlies. The puck deflected up in the air and to the left-wing circle where Betts skated towards the net before firing it past the blocker of Galajda at 5:13.

Nearly seven and a half minutes later the Kings would get their first lead of the game. Johan Steen made a great play to keep the puck onside at the right point before firing it around to the left wing.

Ben Berard got control at the half wall and sent to the goal line for Jonny Evans who then cut towards the middle of the ice. Galajda committed to Evans, so the Kings leading scorer slid the puck across to a wide open Donaldson who fired it into the open net for his third of the playoffs.

Wilson was solid in net all night, and he stopped a number of chances for the Grizzlies late as the Kings held on for the 2-1 win and a 2-1 series lead.

Game four goes Tuesday night at the Hap Parker Arena as the Kings will look to push Victoria to the brink of elimination.