The Powell River Kings (35-18-1-0) hosted the Victoria Grizzlies (33-11-3-4) for the final matchup this season between the two Island Division rivals, and the Kings used a three-goal second period to give themselves a 4-3 win.
It was the Grizzlies opening a scoring as Cameron Thompson let a shot go from the left circle that beat a screened Brian Wilson into the top glove corner.
The Kings tied the game six minutes later on the power play as Tristan Mullin sent a pass from the right side of the net through the crease for Carter Turnbull, who was able to fire the puck past the blocker of Matthew Galajda.
Late in the period the Grizzles were able to regain their lead with a similar goal to their first. This time is was Carter Berger letting a shot go from the left circle that Wilson couldn’t see, and the Grizzlies took a 2-1 lead into the intermission.
With just seconds remaining in the period Nathan Looysen was charged with two slashing calls on the same play, so the Kings started the second with a lengthy power play, but weren’t able to convert.
Shortly after the power play expired, Hunter Findlater scored his second goal in as many games after Josh Coblenz’s shot was stopped, but the rebound was in the crease.
Six minutes later Kyle Betts and Mullin came in two on one, and Betts fed Mullin on the left side who fired a rocket into the top glove corner to give the Kings their first lead of the night.
Just 1:15 later the line of Jonny Evans, Ben Berard and Cam Donaldson did some great work along the left wing wall as they battled for the puck a number of times before getting clear control.
Donaldson sent the puck to the goal line for Berard and he sent a slick pass to the front of the net for Evans to tap home his 35th of the season to make it 4-2.
Victoria was able to cut it down to a one-goal game on a power play of their own. TJ Freidman took a one-touch pass from Jake Stevens at the left circle and fired a snap shot past Wilson to cut it to 4-3.
Wilson’s finest save of the game came with 1:50 remaining in the period. An odd man rush for the Grizzlies saw Tyler Welsh throw the puck to the left wing side for Thompson who wasted no time taking the shot. But Wilson came stretching across to his blocker side and robbed Thompson of the tying goal.
Neither team was able to find the back of the net again in the third as the Kings held on for the 4-3 win. The win brings the Kings to just two points behind Victoria for first place in the Island Division, though the Grizzlies have seven games remaining compared to the Kings four.
The win ended the Grizzlies six-game winning streak, and Victoria’s last three losses have all come at the hands of the Kings.
Powell River has some time off now as they don’t have any games this coming weekend. They welcome the Nanaimo Clippers next weekend for a double header.
