Kings never built a lead but they built a lot of character and overcame many obstacles to topple the Grizzlies 4-3 in double overtime.
Once again the Kings led the parade to the penalty box on Friday night but great penalty killing, timely goaltending and a couple of posts kept them in the game.
Grizzlies led all the way in this game but each time the Griz scored the Kings answered and ultimately scored the winner with just 1:27 to go in the game.
Griz got on the board first when Colantone was left alone in front of Garteig and they led 1-0 after one period.
Forbes got the Kings right back into it when he won a draw deep in the offensive zone and Mike Sones buried it to tie 1-1.
Later in the second, just after Garteig literally robbed Richardson on a deke, Kings had to kill, yes, a two man advantage.
They had just managed to do that but in their haste to rush down the ice turned it over to the Grizzlies who had a two on nothing and Dias roofed it over Garteig.
Kings got that one back when they stormed the Victoria net and Dalrymple shoved the puck through the scrum to tie 2-2.
In the third period Garteig made a pad save off a point shot but the rebound came to Dias who buried his second of the game.
Kings sucked it up though and Schuler took a long look at the only opening he could see and released a laser into the very top of the shelf to pull even at 3-3.
Kings got into penalty trouble after that and killed every single one of them off until they got a chance to play even at three on three.
They had outplayed Victoria throughout the game five on five, four on four and now three on three the crowd could feel it as Victoria fumbled the puck coming out of their own end.
Dasilva was at the end of a long shift but got the whole thing started.
“I was tired but I knew I had to get back and fortunately they bobbled it a bit and I grabbed it. I turned it right around and Nids was already wheeling with it and it looked like he was going to shoot but he threw it back to me and I shot.”
“The goalie made a nice save,” he credited, “but Adair was going to the net like we always preach and he put it in.”
The bench cleared for a game seven like celebration and the crowd was standing and cheering the whole team.
It was quite a scene for so early in the season but maybe a hint of the excitement fans can expect this year.
Both teams head to Victoria for a rematch on Saturday and coach Kent Lewis says, “We gotta keep doing the same things, but stay out of the box and keep the momentum going for us throughout the game and we want the same effort we got tonight.”
“It's a fun place to play – our guys enjoy it there.”
Ron Armitage Mens Wear Three Stars:
1. Justin Dasilva
2. Matt Ginn
3. Cohen Adair
