The Kings got an early lead and held it through 60 minutes to earn a 3-1 victory and a 2-0 series lead over the Nanaimo Clippers in the Island Division semi-final series.
(a recording issue on the FastHockey PPV prevented me clipping the 2-0 and 3-0 goals)
Some thoughts from the game:
- Another solid outing from Jeff Smith, who showed zero signs of any nerves he may have had in game 1. A game that deserved a 27-save shutout was instead a 26 save performance with a big deflection in front the only puck to get by him. While it wasn’t Smith’s busiest night by any stretch, the quality more than made up for it in the 3rd with two huge saves in particular either side of the 3-1 goal.
- Early goals always help and the Kings were excellent in the 1st half of the 1st period. The shots skewed a little the way of Nanaimo through 20, but count that to two late powerplays for the Clippers. All in all a much better opening 20 than Tuesday night in the way the Kings played along with the scoreboard.
- A little more intensity in this one, certainly emphasized by the lengthy stoppage in the 3rd period after Jarid Lukosevicius’ contact with Josh McArdle behind the play. It’s playoffs and situations like that will crop up the longer this series goes on. The hits on Wednesday were a little harder, the skating a little faster and the emotion more on the sleeve. Expect that to continue.
- Kurt Keats again put in a solid performance. The Kings consistently won the battles along the wall, and while it didn’t directly result to a goal (or two like game 1), it’s certainly a big part of why the Kings are 2-0 up in the series.
Here’s what Derek Bachynski and JJ Coleshaw had to say after the game:
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Three Stars of the Game
- Jeff Smith (Kings) – 26 saves
- Luke Nogard (Kings) – 1 assist
- Kurt Keats (Kings) – 1 assist
Fortis BC Energy Player of the Game: Brian Rideout (Kings)
For those watching out of town, the Penticton Vees are 2-0 up on the Merritt Centennials and are the only other team in the playoffs that swept their games at home. The Alberni Valley Bulldogs got a 4-3 win in game 2 in Victoria last night as that series shifts over to Alberni for games 3 and 4.
The Kings now head to Vancouver Island for games 3 and 4 over the weekend, Friday and Saturday both 7pm starts. If necessary, game 5 would be back in Powell River on Monday night.
