The Powell River Kings power play was a major factor in their success over the second half of the season, and it came through in overtime of game four as Jonny Evans scored the series winner to send the Kings past the Cowichan Valley Capitals.
After a scoreless first period, the Capitals were the ones to open the scoring for the first time in the series. A shot from the right point by Chris Harpur was stopped, but Mitch Skapski jumped on the rebound and gave the Capitals the lead just 35 seconds into the second.
Less than two minutes later, Ayden MacDonald threw the puck to the front of the net from below the Kings goal line, and Max Newton was able to jam it past Brian Wilson.
A few minutes later the Kings were given a power play and Ben Berard got a piece of a Carmine Buono shot to cut the lead down to 2-1 heading into the third period/
Just under five minutes into the third the Kings would tie the game. Kyle Betts carried the puck into the Cowichan zone before dropping it off for Tristan Mullin who snapped a shot under the glove of Lane Michasiw.
Nearly four minutes later Carter Turnbull gave the Kings their first lead of the game. After spinning away from a couple of Cowichan players in the left-wing corner, Turnbull walked up the wall before spinning and firing a shot from the boards.
The shot somehow made it’s way through a number of players in front of the net, and went past Michasiw’s glove to give the Kings their first lead of the game with 11 minutes remaining.
The Capitals, fighting to save their season, came back to tie the game again. Michael Montambault came out from below the goal line and threw a backhand on net.
Wilson made the save, but the rebound came out for Hayden Hopkins to fire into the open net with 5:05 remaining.
With under 30 seconds remaining in regulation, Hopkins was called for boarding which gave the Kings a power play to begin the extra frame.
After Berard had a glorious chance to end the series, Evans would finish the job. With just seconds left on the man advantage, Evans skated towards the slot from the left wing and let go a wrist shot that sailed into the top corner over Michasiw’s blocker, sending the Kings to the Island Division Final for the third straight year.
The sweep was the Kings first since the 2009-10 season when they did it to the Langley Rivermen in the Coastal Conference semi final. Powell River now has eight days off before they begin the next series, which will either start in Victoria against the Grizzlies, or at home against the Nanaimo Clippers.
