The Powell River Kings kept the race for first place in the Island Division alive with a 4-0 shutout of the Nanaimo Clippers at the Frank Crane Arena on Friday night.
After a slow start with each team feeling each other out the Kings got back to back goals to take control of the contest. Brandon Kennedy rushed down the ice and generated a nice chance on goal however the puck bounced out to Austin Kamer who slid home his 2nd goal in as many games and gave the Kings a 1-0 lead.
32 seconds later, Nick Halagian found a puck at centre and skated to the right wing, putting one in and out of the net just inside the left post for a 2-0 advantage through one period. Shots favoured the Clippers 11-9.
Into the 2nd period and an early powerplay helped the Kings extend the lead as Jonny Evans and Carter Turnbull poked a puck around the net with Evans eventually finding the back of the net. The Kings made it 4-0 late in the period as Kyle Betts found himself in the slot on the end of some nice work from Liam Lawson along the goal line and a one-timer closed out the scoring.
Jeff Smith did the rest, stopping 28 shots and a few in spectacular fashion for his 24th win of the year and a BCHL-co-leading 5th shutout of the season.
Three Stars of the Game
- Jeff Smith (Kings) – 28 saves, 24th win, 5th shutout
- Austin Kamer (Kings) – 1 goal, game winner
- Jonny Evans (Kings) – 1 goal
The Kings close the gap for first in the Island Division to just 4 points with a game in hand. The Nanaimo Clippers can still clinch first in the division with a win in regulation on Saturday evening in the 2nd leg of the weekend double header against the Kings.
