Game: Victoria Grizzlies vs Powell River Kings
Arena: Hap Parker Arena
Puck Drop: 7:30pm
Broadcast: Starts at 7:10pm
95.7 SunFM Free Audio
FastHockey PPV Video
Kings This Season vs Opposition: 1-4-0-0
Last Meeting: Grizzlies won 6-2
Kings 2012/2013 Record: 17-21-2-6
Kings at home: 10-7-0-3
Kings Last 10: 2-6-0-2
Kings vs Island: 9-13-0-3
Opposition 2012/2013 Record: 29-9-0-5 (1st Island)
Opposition on the Road: 13-5-0-3
Opposition Last 10: 7-0-0-3
It’s the Kings vs Victoria Grizzlies. Fans, players, coaches, broadcasters…get used to that matchup. The two teams played last Saturday night in Victoria, they’ll play 2 games this weekend in Powell River, then play again Tuesday night in Victoria. There is also a strong mathematical change that this is a preview of the first round of the playoffs for both teams. Needless to say, these games mean a lot more than just points in the standings.
Having said that, a good weekend by the Kings and a couple of other results their way and the first paragraph changes completely. 4 points and the Kings are up there with Alberni and Nanaimo, and maybe in 2-3 weeks we’re talking about home ice advantage. That’s of course getting way ahead of ourselves, but it gives you an idea of a) how tight the Island division is for positions 2-4, and b) why each game matters.
The Kings laid an egg in Victoria on Saturday. It left everyone a little shell shocked. I wasn’t quite sure how to paint a game that was a 6-0 scoreline after 40, nor were the coaches in the post-game show, or talking on air the next day. Regardless, the Kings turned in a great effort on Sunday, showing resiliency and character. This week in practice, it has been more of the same, and there has been a good atmosphere around the team.
The team will be a little stronger going into this weekend. Matt Scarth returns from injury, as does Luke Ripley. I’m unsure of the status of both Jarryd Leung and Drew Dorantes, and that’ll be something I’ll know at some point this afternoon when I head to the rink. Regardless of those two players, the Kings will be a much better team with Ripley and Scarth in the lineup, Leung or Dorantes would be gravy on top. The only King I’m certain won’t play will be Brandan Smith, and it’ll be that way for a few weeks yet unfortunately.
In net, coaches decision obviously. Braeden Ostephchuk played well in Cowichan in the loss. Jonah Imoo got chased in Victoria, but then turned in an excellent effort in Alberni the next day. As we profiled on the broadcast, he’s good when bouncing back after being pulled. He’s now 3-2-1 in games after getting the toss, with both of those losses coming in his last 2 games (vs Victoria and vs Alberni). He’s also got 2 shutouts in the same situation.
Victoria got up early and are travelling here today. There’s no reason for them not to be confident. They’ve gotten results against the Kings this year in all but 1 contest, and have owned the season series. We’ve profiled them before. They have a big D-core, they’re skilled up front, they have some grit and they work hard. You look at the goals they scored against the Kings last weekend, and some of the results between the two clubs this year. Not a lot of ‘high-skill’ plays, and a lot of action within 10ft of the net.
Then there was that buzzer beater earlier in the season…again hard work to the buzzer.
Watch for the Fitzgerald triplets, however many of them play. Gerry was missing last Saturday, and Leo and Myles still put up a goal and 5 assists. Look also for David Mazurek and Myles Powell. On the back end, Blake Thompson and DJ Jones are offensive and defensive threats…Nolan DeJong has played well this year also.
In net, Brady Rouleau got the call Saturday, but Stiliadis has more games played. The Grizzlies split duties pretty evenly and I’d imagine we’ll see both this weekend, unless one steals the show tonight.
On the show tonight, the BCHL This Week with Vees forward Cody DePourq and Silverbacks defenceman Shane Hanna. Also, we’ll chat with Matt Scarth and Brian Rideout. We’ll give you info on some Kings events coming up and we’ll breakdown the stretch drive and what the Kings need to do in their final 10 games.
Derek Bachynski will join me after 60 minutes to chat about the game as well.
