Kings got a complete effort from the entire team on Monday night and skated to a 4-0 shutout over the Vipers.
A large, noisey crowd of over 1200 watched the Kings capitalize on their first powerplay opportunity and then gather momentum as the game went on.
Chad Niddery followed up the rush of Mat Bodie and dug the puck out of a scramble and into the net at 15:12 of the opening period.
Kings' latest scoring sensation Cody Rainaldi unleashed a blast from the top of the circle at 5:17 of the second that rang off the crossbar and into the net for a 2-0 lead.
In the third, Kings' Andrew Pettitt one timed a beautiful cross ice pass from Bodie on the powerplay at 0:48 for a 3-0 lead and then at 6:58 Bodie wristed in a snapshot to make it 4-0.
Vipers just could not solve either Josh Watson or the tenacious checking of the Kings and seemed to unravel a bit towards the end of the game. Very unusual for the RBC champs but maybe an indication of how well the Kings are playing lately.
Assistant coach Shane Lukinchuk talked about the game's first star, Josh Watson, and what he means to the team.
“He deserves it,” he smiled, “he's our hardest working guy.”
“Not taking anything away from anybody else but he battles – he's the first guy on the ice, always hangs out after and plays rebound with the guys and he deserves everything he gets.”
He also talked of Rainaldi's goal saying, “we've talked about that – flying down the wall and letting a slapshot go and his was bar-down and it's nice to see him execute it.”
Vernon isn't used to trailing a game much less a series but Lukinchuk says, “we just want to make sure we're relentless in our attack and I think what we have in our favour is our speed.”
“It's a pain in the ass to play against and if we continue to do that with discipline – hey the skies the limit.”
Commissioner John Grisdale was in attendance and spoke briefly about the team from Powell River.
“I'm pleased so far,” he said adding, “I watched Powell River play Alberni in the last series and am very aware of the talent and skillsets of all the defensemen and the way they are moving the puck.”
“Not surprised but very pleased.”
He witnessed the comeback against the Bulldogs and said, “that's hockey and the ebbs and flows of it – when you ride that wave.”
“Powell River is a very hard working team and when they are focused – any team that loses it's focus for whatever reason, justified or unjustified – the coaches got them refocused again and they came back and won three very tight games and they deserved to win each one.”
Armitage Mens Wear Three Stars:
1. Josh Watson
2. Mat Bodie
3. Chad Niddery
