Up against the number four Junior A team in the entire nation Kings needed to bringing "their game" to the Hap on Friday versus Victoria.
They turned the tables somewhat on the Grizzlies after the last meeting in Victoria and after a scoreless first period quickly got on the board in the second.
Rouleau and his defensemen got all tied up behind the net and Drew Dorantes jumped in to steal the puck and then wrap it around to make it 1-0.
Dorantes was the guy again, but this time shorthanded, he stole the puck from DeJong and went the length of the ice and didn't beat Rouleau but Villeneuve jumped in to jam in the rebound.
The next goal belonged to the Grizzlies and was a good play gone wrong.
Waugh had just rattled Fitzgerald in the Kings' end and Fitzgerald was yelling at the ref then skating to the bench for a change. As he did he took a swing at Waugh as he went by and then the puck ended up literally on his stick so he turned around, went to the slot and dished off to DeJong who scored the Grizzlies first goal.
Later in the second period, Kings had all kinds of pressure on the Grizzly net but the puck sprang loose to Fitzgerald who went down the right wing, beat the lone defenseman on his way and went in on Imoo alone to deke left and stuff it in right on the short side to make it 2-2 at the end of two periods.
Kings really did have the bulk of the energy and play in the game and were rewarded in the third when after more pressure down low they broke the tie.
Actually Evan Richardson had the best chance with the puck lying right in front of him in the Grizzly crease but just as he attempted to put it in he was hit from behind and taken off the puck.
That's when Luke Nogard swept in and with his long reach got to the puck that Richardson missed and the KIngs went up 3-2 early in the third.
Kings looked pretty good playing with the lead but had a penalty called on them and the powerplay of the Grizzlies pulled them even when DeJong's point shot went in through a screen to tie the game 3-3.
The first overtime was even but pretty uneventful but the second, 3 on 3, proved to be the Kings undoing.
Fitzgerald got up some speed on the left wing and again, beat his defenseman and then wired the winner past Imoo.
The same two teams go at it again on Saturday.
Same place but different time – it starts at 5:00 P.M. – remind your friends.
