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Kings record their second straight shutout, and win 7-0

By: Dante De Caria | Photo: Alicia Baas

Powell River, BC – Derek Krall made 37-saves for his third career shutout, and the Powell River Kings (26-21-3) got goals from seven different players in a 7-0 win over the Cowichan Valley Capitals (31-13-7) in front of a crowd of 793 on Friday night at the Hap Parker Arena.

The Kings shutout an opponent in back-to-back games for the first time since February of 2016 when the Kings shutout the Cowichan Valley Capitals 4-0 and 7-0 on home ice.

“It was a good team effort,” said Kings assistant coach Brock Sawyer. “We gave up some chances, but for the most part we stuck to our game plan, and we executed. The power play gets two goals quickly, and Krogger (Nolan Krogfoss) goes upstairs off the draw, so everything worked out in our favor.

It was Krogfoss’s sixth of the season that opened the scoring with under three minutes in the first period that titled the ice in the Kings favor. For the first time this season, he pulled off his signature move, shooting the puck off the faceoff and into the net.

“I’ve done that over 100 times this year, and I guess one was bound to go in,” smiled Krogfoss, who picked up his third goal over his last five games. “I’ve been told off the draw to just shoot it and see what happens. Most of the time I get it off, but it doesn’t go anywhere. Before I scored, their goalie (Zach Borgiel) was actually calling it.”

The Kings followed with one more towards the end of the first period, and five more in the second, setting a new season high for goals scored in a single period this season, surpassing their previous high of four goals netted in a frame.

“We played with a lot of energy. If you look at the location of the shots in that period, a lot of them were right in that home plate area (blue paint),” added Sawyer. “You work hard to get into those areas, and if you’re low on your stick and feisty, you’re going to bang pucks in. Four of the five goals were around that home plate area where we were jamming in rebounds.”

The Kings extend their winning-streak to five games, which ties a season high set back in September. The club also passes their previous season high of consecutive wins on home ice, which was also was set back in September.

Kings netminder Derek Krall made 37-saves, and 16 saves in the third period for his third career shutout (all since joining the Kings). He has now won his last four starts dating back to January 17th. On the other side, the Capitals had to use two goaltenders, as Zach Brogiel was yanked after giving up four goals on 23 shots. Ben Howard came in, and allowed three goals on 15 shots. Final shot total was 38-37 for the Kings.

All but six players recorded at least a point in the Kings 26th win of the season. Powell River has now recorded at least a point in seven straight games, going 6-0-1 during that time. The Capitals record their first regulation loss since December 20th, snapping a streak of 12 straight games with at least a point (9-0-3 during that time).

Ethan Schmunk (11th), Brett Roloson (18), Reilly Moran (15), Michael Abgrall (11), Ben Wozney (4) and Jacob Badal (14th) had the other goals for the Kings, as they improve to 16-8 with a +22 goal differential on home ice this season.

Roloson extended his goal-streak to five games (5G/1A), Moran scored his first goal in 15 games and Abgrall extended his point-streak to four games (3G/4A).

The Powell River Kings resume action Saturday, February 1st at 5:00 p.m., against the Cowichan Valley Capitals. The Kings will wrap up their season series against the Caps’ on Wednesday night in Duncan, BC.