Game: Victoria Grizzlies vs Powell River Kings
Arena: Hap Parker Arena
Puck Drop: 7:00pm
Broadcast: Starts at 6:35pm
95.7 SunFM Free Audio
FastHockey PPV Video
Kings This Season vs Opposition (incl. PO): 3-6-0-1
Last Meeting: Kings won 3-1
Kings 2012/2013 Record: 20-25-2-9
Kings at home: 12-10-0-6
Kings vs Island (incl. PO): 13-17-0-4
Opposition 2012/2013 Record: 33-13-0-10
Opposition at Home: 18-6-0-4
Opposition Last 10: 2-4-0-4
If you missed our look at the regular season series between the Kings and Grizzlies, read posts on leading scorers, special teams and goaltending.
We noted on the game 2 preview that this series didn’t feel like playoffs yet…consider that fixed. Saturday’s game was a playoff game. It had intensity, great chances both ways, hitting, chatting, urgency and some great goaltending. The Kings won the battle and the war is tied at 1, heading back to Powell River. That’s significant in a couple of ways, because the Grizzlies go from having all the advantage, to having very little in the overall scope in this series. It’s a best-of-five, so 2 of the next 3 will be played in Powell River.
The Kings again got through a game largely unscathed. Certainly this time of year, players are playing with knocks, bumps and bruises, but the team will have the luxury of going into tonight’s game with more or less the same lineup. In fact, I’d be very surprised to see Kent Lewis change much up at all, as all season when he’s made a change and its had effect, he’s kept with it.
There is pressure both ways in this series, given how the first two games played out. The pressure on the Kings is to do something they haven’t been very good at doing all season long, and that’s winning the game after a great effort. Despite the result, consistency has been tough for the team, but what they do have in their favour is that big win came on the road, and tonight, hopefully 1000+ Kings faithful will be at the game to cheer them on.
If the pressure on the Kings is to be consistent, the pressure on Victoria to to be the Island Division Champs. Such a 180 for the team this year, and they’ve dealt with it well. They ran away with the regular season crown in the Island Division, and were the 2nd best team in the league coming into playoffs, despite losing 6 straight and now 7 of their last 8. The pressure is now on them to take back home ice advantage with a win in either of the next two games, and to close out this series at home on Wednesday.
The biggest difference between game 1 and game 2 from a Victoria stand point was frustration. Whether it came from Jonah Imoo taking away chances in front for the Fitzgerald’s, or whether it was the Kings figuring out the penalty kill against Victoria and shutting their powerplay down, there were visible signs of frustration from the Grizzlies on Saturday night. Repeatedly in the 3rd, both Fitzgerald’s were smashing their sticks on the ice, shots were going wide and the team that had generated 189 goals in the regular season, went wanting when they needed it most.
No changes for Victoria in terms of suspension. Blake Thompson wraps up his absence tonight and will be eligible for game 4. Turner Lawson still has some time left. Pearce Eviston and Chris Albertini both missed Saturday’s game, and their status is unknown heading into game 3.
An earlier pre-game than normal as Andy and I will talk about the first two games and the difference between the two. We’ll talk with Kings defenceman Jordan Benton, as well as the coaches from both teams.
In the 1st intermission, we’ll chat with Luke Nogard and Jonah Imoo about their impressive game 2’s, as well as a full update on all the pee-wee and midget results from their Provincial Championships. In the 2nd intermission, the BCHL This Week radio edition.
Derek Bachynski and a player of his choosing will join us after 60 or so minutes to talk about the game and get set for game 4 tomorrow night, where one team’s season will be on the line.
