Seemed like everyone saw the puck go in but the ref saw it differently and the end result was a 3-2 for the Grizzlies on Friday night.
Kings got off to a great start on Teddy Bear night when they potted the first goal early on the powerplay.
Rona volunteers and the Kings went right to work at 4:19 when Scarth handed it off to Richardson who hit Hiff open on the right side. He had lots of net to hit with his one timer and before you knew it the bears were hitting the ice and the Kings were up 1-0.
After a slight delay and with the help of all the Kings the bears were cleared but the Grizzlies evened the score on a powerplay of their own.
With strategy to pour rubber on the net defenseman Jone flipped a shot on Imoo and in a scramble for the rebound Turner Lawson tied it 1-1 at 8:01.
A little over two minutes later Kings had almost killed off a penalty but Zach Urban's shot from the point again came off Imoo and in a melee Myles Powell slapped another rebound in to go up 2-1 on another powerplay goal.
There was no scoring in the second with the highlight a pretty good tussle between King's Parker and Turner Lawson with both leaving for fighting majors.
Kings tried desperately to tie the game but the Grizzlies were giving them fits in their own end in the third period and got a big break when Mitch Meek threw the puck into the crease and it went off Joyaux and into the net to go up 3-1 at 12:27.
With just over six minutes to play Kings had a similar play with a shot from Dupont that crossed the crease behind Griz goalie Stiliadis and then briefly and clearly crossed the goal line.
The goal light went on but the referee waived it off and play continued for another minute before a whistle went and the ref went to confer with the goal judge.
Despite the confirmation of a goal from the goal judge the referee stood by his initial decision and signalled a faceoff in the Grizzly \zone.
Kings seemed to get a spark from their setback and on the ensuing shift Dorantes and Dupont broke in on a two on one and Dupont took the pass from Dorantes and fired a shot top blocker at 16:52 to get to within one goal 3-2.
Unfortunately for the Kings they couldn't get 'another' tying goal and lost in their bid to beat the bears.
"We took a couple of undisciplined penalties," said coach Kent Lewis, "and we didn't win the battles in front of the net for two goals."
"We got angry after the disallowed goal and boom we get a goal," he said of the late rally, "but again Victoria played a good game and got the two points."
Armitage Mens Wear Three Stars:
1. Michael Stiliadis
2. D.J. Jones
3. Stephen Hiff
