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Kings shake off layoff with 6-2 win

Game one for the Kings must have felt like a home opener after the off season.

After more than two weeks off with the bye they were itching to get things underway against Victoria who knew they needed a quick start as well.

Kings jumped a little faster though and a couple of players who haven't figured in the scoring lately, gave them a 2-0 lead.

Cohen Adair scooped up a puck that was being kicked around by a couple of Grizzlies including goaltender Ginn and he worked it out to score into the empty net.

Schuler got his when he had a couple of cracks at the puck right in front of Ginn.

A jubilant crowd of 847 were quieted later in the period when Labreche fired a puck past Garteig from the circle with just 17 seconds to go and close the gap 2-1.

The Griz tied it up midway through the second when Eviston tipped a point shot from Pernerowski that slid through Garteig's legs at 9:47.

Dalrymple got that one right back when he snuck in from the point and converted Schuler's pass with a backhand to beat Ginn blocker side at 10:18 to go ahead 3-2.

Schuler gave the Kings some breathing room at 17:57 when he tipped in a Dasilva point shot and the Kings had a 4-2 lead after two.

Chad Niddery was a big factor in this game with his hustle and tenacity and he also chipped in with a big goal at just 0:15 seconds of the third period.

The frustration of the Grizzlies was evident when with seven minutes to go they called a timeout and, on the powerplay, pulled Ginn for a six on four advantage.

Kings worked the puck deep into the Victoria end of the rink and one of the hardest working players in the league, Niddery stole the puck and backhanded it into the empty net.

Kings outshot the Grizzlies 46 – 24 and went 1 for 6 on the powerplay while holding the Grizzlies off the scoresheet in six powerplay opportunities.

“It was a lot of fun playing again,” smiled Steven Schmidt, “the guys were really pumped up and we were all going hard and it shows we didn't really miss a beat with the bye.”

“I think we did all the right things and we kept it simple and that's the stuff that's going to win us hockey games over this stretch,” he said.

Ron Armitage Mens Wear Three Stars:

1. Daniel Schuler

2. Cohen Adair

3. Chad Niddery