The Powell River Kings find their season hanging in the balance following a third period rut to the penalty box and a game 5 defeat against the Victoria Grizzlies by a 4-2 score on Friday night.
Victoria opened the scoring in the first period through Alex Newhook who gave the home team a 1-0 lead in just short of the 6 minute mark. The Kings countered or at least though they had through Jayden Lee not long after, however the goal was waved off due to goaltender interference with Levi Glasman adjudged to have made contact with Kurtis Chapman on his way to the front of the net. Victoria held their 1-0 lead through 20, with shots favouring Victoria 15-7.
The Kings came out hungry and got rewarded in the second period as Ryan Brushett capitalized on a favourable bounce off Ethan Martini’s skate to turn and fire past Chapman for a 1-1 score on his 3rd of the playoffs. Victoria would counter midway through the frame, again through Newhook for a 2-1 advantage. On the next shift, the Kings worked the puck up to the top of the zone as Berard and Samanski found Jack Long at the blue line, he shoots from distance and beats Chapman for his 1st of the playoffs and 2nd of the year (both in Victoria) and a 2-2 score that held through 40.
Victoria opened the third with a goal that was waved off, also through goaltender interference and the score remained 2-2 until Victoria went to their 3rd man advantage of both the game and the period and converted through Kyle McGrath for a 3-2 lead. Marty Westhaver would beat Adamyk on a laser from the right wall 2 minutes later and the Grizzlies skated away to a 4-2 win, and lead the series 3-2.
The Kings host game 6 at Hap Parker Arena on Saturday night, a 7:00pm start. The team must win to force a game 7 which would take place on Monday in Victoria.
