Wednesday's game got off to a late start due to a delay in the Back's flight schedule but when the puck dropped at 7:45 both teams were raring to go.
The first twenty was played at a good clip with the Kings' Niddery coming close a couple of times.
He finally succeeded on a shot from a bad angle that banked in off of Kris Moore.
SA started off the second period with a goal at 5:41 on the power play by Gervais to even it 1-1, but the Kings responded quickly to restore the lead.
The Kings took just four seconds to capitalize on Paul DeJersey's penalty when Dalrymple's blast from the point was tipped by Steven Schmidt.
Six minutes later Matt Garbowsky took a feed from Chad Niddery and dazzled the Backs when he attacked from one side of the net and while Moore and company were looking for the puck, Garbowsky spun around the other side and scored into the empty net.
That one was a real beauty and the Kings led 3-1 after two periods.
Late in the third period Niddery and Garbowsky had a two on one and Matt dropped the puck to Chad who swept to a shooting position from the slot and fired a well placed wrist shot by Moore.
This was a very complete game by a team that can beat you any number of ways – don't forget they were without the services of Scott Renner, Teagan Waugh, Cohen Adair and Daniel Schuler to various injuries.
The Silverbacks wanted to play a rough game, and the Kings showed they were up to the challenge.
One thing is for sure, the Kings will not back down from anyone and the better the opposition, the better the Kings have played.
A big part of the defense is goaltending, and Michael Garteig was brilliant in goal for the Kings.
“The guy who passed is kind of known as a good playmaker,” said Gartieg of his robbery on Hammond in the third period, “he slid it across pretty fast so I didn't have time to make it all the way over and I stuck out the arm and caught it.”
“I stretched pretty far for a guy like me,” he smiled.
“That's a good game for us before playoffs,” and Garteig added looking ahead to the weekend, “Cowichan or Alberni, you can't take them lightly but with the bye you want to play well going in and this was great because it tuned us up perfectly.”
“They were a good team with some good players but we don't want to be a fun team to play against and we want to send a message not just to our divsion but to the Interior as well.”
The game was very chippy at times and number 25, Justin Dasilva, almost lost some teeth on a high stick from Morgan Zulinick.
“I had just thrown the puck away and he caught me right under the chin in the throat,” he said.
Dasilva retaliated knocking Zulinick's helmut off and of the careless stickwork he said, “I don't let it go very far.”
Dasilva's physical presence was also put to use on the powerplay when he joined Garbowsky and Niddery up front.
“We noticed the goalie was a little weak down low and he wasn't seeing very many pucks,” he explained, “so a big guy like me up front just helps that much more.”
A very good effort by the Kings who wrap up the regular league schedule on the road in Cowichan and Alberni on the weekend.
Ron Armitage Mens Wear Three Stars:
1. Michael Garteig
2. Chad Niddery
3. Mike Hammond
