Game: Cowichan Valley Capitals vs Powell River Kings
Arena: Hap Parker Arena
Puck Drop: 1:30pm
Broadcast: Starts at 1:00pm
95.7 SunFM Free Audio
FastHockey PPV Video
Kings This Season vs Opposition: 2-0-0-0
Last Meeting: Kings won 4-2 (October 20th, 2013)
Kings 2013/2014 Record: 14-4-0-1 (1st Island)
Kings at home: 10-4-0-0
Kings Last 10: 6-3-0-1
Kings vs Island: 7-2-0-0
Opposition 2013/2014 Record: 11-11-0-1 (4th Island)
Opposition on the road: 5-8-0-0
Opposition Last 10: 5-5-0-0
The Kings will look to put out a more complete effort today after having 7 put up on the board against them on Friday night. It was a game where the Kings started very well, got the first goal then the flood-gates opened. It was the first game this season that the Kings lost in regulation when holding a lead at any point. The only other time that’s happened, the Kings fell in overtime to the Vees last month.
The team was able to secure some ice-time yesterday to learn from and move ahead of Friday’s loss. It was a smaller group, with a couple of players being afforded a chance to heal up some bumps and bruises. For the rest, it was a shorter but tough session designed to get the team up to speed on Cowichan.
A few changes are in store for today’s lineup. The Kings have been able to call in the cavalry somewhat and bring over a number of AP’s to help out for today’s game. Big 6’5 defenceman Nick Tupper comes over and helps bolster a depleted blue line. Also with him is Jake Calverley, as the pair will fill in for Kyle Chatham, Luke Ripley and Jeremy LeClerc who are all either injured or absent from the squad today. Up front, the Kings get a boost with the return of Matt Scarth. Matt’s missed 15 games with a lower body injury, and I’d imagine he’ll be used sparingly, but his experience and shot are certainly welcomed returns. Up front also will be Garrett Dunlop, covering in for Jarryd Leung who took a knock at the end of Friday’s game against Penticton. Jonah Imoo gets the start and looks to put a disappointing effort behind him on Friday.
It’s rare you get two teams coming into a game with the same, or near same last result. The Caps are on the tail end of a 3-in-3, with a quick 2-game set against Victoria in the rear view mirror. That series wrapped with a 7-2 Victoria win last night. Goals came in a similar fashion, with 2 against in the 1st, 4 in the 2nd and 1 in the 3rd. The only difference between the Caps/Grizzlies and Kings/Vees contest was the Caps were able to tie it at 2 after scoring first.
The Caps too are short-handed, with 5 scratched from the roster here this afternoon. It’s the same 5 that missed last night as well with Steen Cooper away on Team Canada West, Patrick Arnold and Mason Malkowich on the injured reserve, and Colton Kehler and Brayden Gelsinger both out seemingly for the weekend. The Caps will again go to their #1 in goal Robin Gusse, who started last night and was pulled after giving up 5 on 31 in a little over 33 minutes worth of work.
In our pre-game show, we’ll chat with the coaches from both benches, get to your keys to the game, the tale of the tape and stat pack. In the 1st intermission, we’ll talk with goaltender Jonah Imoo about what he does after a tough game, Drew Dorantes with an injury update and how the Kings go from Friday’s loss to Sunday’s game. Finally we’ll talk with Brian Rideout about his increased role with so many bodies off the blue line.
In the 2nd intermission, we’ll talk to the voice of the Caps Dustin Forbes about his team’s 500-start to the season, where the team excels and what the Kings can expect out of the Caps moving forward. In the post-game show, Chad van Diemen will join us after 60 to talk about the game and profile next weekend against Alberni.
