Game 2 Review:
The Kings fell in game 2 of the Fred Page Cup Finals by a score of 2-1 to the Vees, but it won’t be the 2-0 series lead that the Penticton club takes from this game that will be remembered, rather a controversial goal in the 3rd period that wound up being the game winner.
For the first time this series, the Kings opened the scoring after again controlling much of the play in the 1st period. Off a draw, 7:21 into the 1st, Matt Scarth found himself in the slot with the puck on his stick, wristing it past Chad Katunar for his 2nd of the playoffs and a 1-0 lead heading into the 1st intermission. The Kings outshot the Vees 9-4 in the opening 20.
In the 2nd, the contest became more even with both teams trading chances, but it was a Joey Benik end to end rush ending with a laser beam wrist shot that got tipped by Sean Maguire’s glove, but not enough to prevent it going into the back of the net, Benik’s 8th and a 1-1 game. It stayed that way until the 3rd period, with the Vees outshooting the Kings for the first period of this series 11-10.
The 3rd period and both teams pushed, with some more chances both ways. Sean Maguire made some good saves throughout, and the Kings had Chad Katunar scrambling again, but were still unable to find that one to get past. It was eventually the Vees who scored, in a manner that will likely stand up as a key point in the series one way or another. On a rush down the ice, a pass ahead for Bryce Gervais to go in on a partial break was out of Gervais reach. In reaching for the puck and pressure from a Kings backchecker, Gervais lost his edge and collided with Sean Maguire, taking the two out of the crease and to the side of the net. The puck meanwhile, bounced off the end boards and fell to Steven Fogarty on the goal line in the corner, he scored from a tight angle and the Vees had the 2-1 lead. (Note: If you want to look at the goal, go here)
The Kings bench and players protested the call, and it was reviewed by the referees, but deemed a good goal. It gave the Vees the win, despite the Kings again outshooting the Vees 30-23, including 11-8 in the 3rd period.
Three Stars of the Game
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Chad Katunar (Vees) – 29 saves
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Bryce Gervais (Vees) – 2 assists
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Craig Dalrymple (Kings)
Game 3 goes Tuesday night in Powell River. A 7:00 start, with the broadcast beginning on 95.7 SunFM.
Game 1 review:
You can forgive the Kings for being disappointed with the result of game 1. Not necessarily just with the scoreline, but the fact that there is a strong arguement to be made that the Kings were the better team throughout much of the game, but came away empty handed in a 3-1 Penticton win.
The Vees opening the scoring despite a great start for the Kings, and would latch onto a turnover in the Kings zone, Joey Benik in alone on Maguire and made no mistake for his 7th of the playoffs and a 1-0 game. Doubling the lead just 2:03 later hurt more, as the Vees scored just 4 seconds into their first powerplay, Mike Reilly got a shot from the point where (I think) Logan Johnston got a tip in front and notched his 4th of the playoffs in his 47th playoff game.
The Kings were outshooting the Vees 14-12, many of the Vees 12 shots coming in a 5-6 minute span in the middle of the period. Into the 2nd and the Vees added another 3:34 in, Travis St. Denis as the trailer got a loose puck and put it into an empty net as Sean Maguire had slid over to deal with a Troy Stecher chance, St. Denis’ 3rd and a 3-0 game. Just 21 seconds after the 3-0 goal, Daniel Schuler broke down the left wing and got a great shot away on Chad Katunar that the goaltender got a piece of, but not enough. Schuler’s 6th and a 3-1 game.
That was all the scoring. The Kings outscored the Vees 15-9 in the 2nd period, 14-7 in the 3rd for a 60 minute toal of 43-28, but couldn’t beat Chad Katunar or capatalise on loose pucks around the net. It’s tough to write this without sounding like a homer broadcaster, but the Kings controlled good portions of this game, and were unlucky not to come away with a win. Katunar looked extremely uncomfortable in game 1 and an inch the other way and this game is completely different. As I said above, the Kings can be disappointed with the fact they outshot and took the game to Penticton, but came up empty.
Three Stars of the Game
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Travis St. Denis (Vees) – 1 goal
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Chad Katunar (Vees) – 42 saves
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Sean Maguire (Kings) – 25 saves
Game 2 goes Saturday night in Penticton. It’s a 7:00pm start, with the pre-game show on 95.7 SunFM at 6:45.
