A slow start was offset by a frantic finish, but the Powell River Kings could only find the back of the net once as they dropped game 3 by a 3-1 score to the Victoria Grizzlies on Monday night in front of a great crowd at the Hap Parker Arena.
Victoria came out the better team in the opening period, establishing a big lead in the shots department and calling goaltender Matteo Paler-Chow into action early and often. It took the Kings eight minutes to get their first shot on goal, coming shorthanded through Ethan Kimball when the shot totals read 10-0 Grizzlies. Despite all the chances for Victoria, it was the Kings to score first as Carter Turnbull drove the net and Chapman kicked out a rebound to Ben Berard to score his team-leading 6th of the playoffs and a 1-0 lead.
That score held up through 20 with the Kings drawing shot totals back a little, Victoria 16-11.
Into the 2nd and the Kings continued to push and pepper as the game took a more playoff-like feel with more emotion drawing in. However no scoring in the middle frame and it was still 1-0 Kings through 40. Shots 28-20 Grizzlies.
A tough start to the third as the Kings went to the powerplay, but for the 2nd straight game the Grizzlies scored shorthanded as an outlet feed from Carmine Buono was picked off by Jamie Rome, who found Cam Thompson and placed a perfect shot over the shoulder of Matteo Paler-Chow to tie the game. With less than 5 remaining, the Grizzlies took their first lead of the series via Marty Westhaver and it was 2-1. The Grizzlies closed it out late through an empty net goal, again to Thompson to win 3-1. The third period saw the Kings fire a game-high 16 shots on goaltender Kurtis Chapman, but the Grizzlies hold on for a 3-1 win.
Here’s what Brock Sawyer had to say in the post game show:
https://www.facebook.com/powellriverkings/videos/2047617998587417/
Three Stars of the Game:
1. Kurtis Chapman (Grizzlies) – 35 saves, 5th win
2. Cam Thompson (Grizzlies) – 2 goals
3. Matteo Paler-Chow (Kings) – 30 saves
The Kings still lead the series 2-1, with game 4 coming up at the Hap Parker Arena on Tuesday night, a 7:00pm start. Tickets are available at the Kings office from 9:30am onwards, or online at http://tickets.powellriverkings.com/.
