By: Dante De Caria | Photo: Alicia Baas
Duncan, BC – The Cowichan Valley Capitals (33-13-7) defeated the Powell River Kings (26-22-4) 3-0 on Wednesday night at the Cowichan Community Centre.
The Kings streak of eight straight games with at least a point (6-0-2) comes to an end after their seventh shutout loss of the season. Their seven shutout losses this season are the most in recent history (since 2003-04), while their five shutout wins are the most since the 2015-16 season.
The Capitals going two-for-three power play was the difference, with both of their power play goals coming on deflections in the first period. Luc Wilson’s 18th, and ninth of the season on the power play opened the scoring early in the first. His wrist-shot from the left circle hit a Kings defender, and redirected into the goal. Then with under 50-seconds to play in the frame, Zach Brooks had a point-shot go off his leg and in.
Late in the third period, the John Lundy put the game away, capitalizing on a Kings turnover, and scoring on a breakaway for his fifth of the season.
“Truthfully, we didn’t do enough to score,” said Powell River Kings assistant coach Brock Sawyer. “I thought we dominated the first period five-on-five, but our penalty kill let us down and our power play (0-5) didn’t execute. We were a bit too slow, but we had some chances where we were around their net and couldn’t pull the trigger to score.”
Capitals goaltender Zach Borgiel made 30-saves for his fourth shutout this season. Kings netminder Thomas Wardle stopped 30 of 33 in the loss, as his two game winning-streak came to an end.
“I thought he (Wardle) was really good today,” added Sawyer. “He made some lights out saves in tight. If you look at their goals, and how they went in, one was off a stick, second was a deflection and the third one is a turnover. Did we do anything to help him, not really. He was great. He made some point blank saves where they were sliding it back door, and out came his leg. I said to him after the game, we’re not going to win if we don’t score.”
The Cowichan Valley Capitals winning-streak on home ice extends to six games. They improve to 11-1-3 over their last 15 games.
The Kings fall to 8-4-2 since December 30th (2-2-1 on the road / 6-1-1 at home), and finish the season series 3-2-3 against the Capitals. Also in the loss, Jack Brackett and Jacob Slipec both had their five game point-streaks come to an end.
The Powell River Kings look to bounce back this Friday and Saturday when they host a double-header against the Alberni Valley Bulldogs (24-23-3). The Kings hold five point lead on the Bulldogs for third in the Island Division standings. The Kings have six more games left in the season.
