There's a long way to go but the first game was a good one for the Kings as they shutout the Eagles 3-0 on Tuesday night.
The 704 fans who turned up certainly got their money's worth as the Kings put in one of the best sixties of the year.
Brendon MacDonald has found his scoring touch since coming to Powell River in January and he got things started with an extra effort and shot that eventually worked it's way through a maze and into the net at 5:49.
Kings had several good chances to add to the lead (Adair crossbar) before the first 20 was over but settled for a 1-0 lead afer one.
Daniel Schuler did all the work on the second goal when he tried to stuff it in on one side – was stopped – picked it up and around the back to the other side and fed Adair in front who slapped it in at 6:21.
The third goal from Evan Richardson was a two on one with Burns outwaiting everybody and finally feeding number 9 who made no mistake at 14:43.
There was no scoring in the third but again the Kings missed on a couple of good opportunities (Adair two more bars).
As mentioned, it was a full team effort and the so-called fourth line guys (lets call them the TLC line) contributed a bunch of quality minutes in the last series and this game.
"We played real good tonight – lots of energy," said Brandon Tidy.
"They came out hitting but we hit back and matched their energy."
"Being on the fourth line, when you get out there you want to play with energy and you should have more than everyone else," he said 'with energy', "because obviously you're not going to play as much so you just want to do whatever you can."
Fresh legs were what was needed in the third and Tidy said, "when you have a 3-0 lead going into the third, he trusts us to get the pucks out, get the pucks deep and trusts us defensively and it's nice to give some of the scorers and skill guys a rest when you can trust us to go out and protect the lead."
His linemate Tanner Cochrane was finding other ways to get involved as he tangled with Beau Orser in the third period.
"As a fourth line kind of guy," he said, "you kind of have to bring that to the table and know your role."
"If the team needs a boost then I try to find a way to give it to them any way I can."
Kings are well aware of their recent history and talk after the game was guarded but determined.
"Obviously the first one is huge," said Cochrane, "but we've got to come in tomorrow and be ready to go."
He and his linemates had their chances and but he said of Hunt, "he's a good goalie – you have to give him credit for that, but obviously any goalie with traffic you never know what's going to go in."
"We just have to try and throw as much as we can at him."
Kings and Eagles will meet in game two on Wednesday at 7:00 P.M. in game two.
Ron Armitage Mens Wear Three Stars:
1. Daniel Schuler
2. Evan Richardson
3. J.P. Villeneuve
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