POWELL RIVER 4
VICTORIA 1
It turns out the Sunshine Coast was nothing but gloomy for visitors this holiday weekend.
Powell River Kings netminder Jeff Smith saw to that, first shutting out the Cowichan Valley Capitals 4-0 and 7-0 in back-to-back games Friday and Saturday before defeating the visiting Victoria Grizzlies 4-1 on Monday afternoon at Hap Parker Arena.
Victoria has now lost five straight and remains just two points up on Alberni Valley for the last playoff spot in the B.C. Hockey League’s Island Division.
“Their goalie had a really good night,” said Grizzlies general manager and head coach Craig Didmon, who watched Smith stop 29 of 30 shots, with just captain P.J. Conlon managing to beat him to make it 2-1 after one period.
“He was the difference tonight,” Didmon added of Smith. “Not taking anything away from [Grizzlies goalie] Matthew Galajda, he played a good game, too. Their goalie had a good night. Their team played hard and they’ve gotten better.
“We had enough opportunities to win the hockey game, though. But they’re a hard team to beat at home, losing just five times.”
Two of those have been to Victoria, which now falls to 21-25-4-0. The Kings improve to 30-18-3-0 (21-5-1-0 at home) and sit just five points back of division-leading Nanaimo.
Kyle Betts and Hunter Findlater gave the Kings a 2-0 lead and Adam Brubacher upped it to 3-1 in the second period before Jonny Evans iced it with an empty-netter.
“Considering it was a tough travel day, the guys came out to play,” said Didmon. “We picked up two penalties in the last 10 minutes and that affected our comeback a little bit.”
The Grizzlies — who now face Merritt and Chilliwack at home at The Q Centre on Saturday and Sunday — have now been out-scored 28-13 over the five-game losing streak after outgunning the opposition 38-12 over a seven-game winning run.
