POWELL RIVER 4
VICTORIA 2
Don’t look now, but the Powell River Kings have cut into the Victoria Grizzlies’ lead atop the B.C. Hockey League’s Island Division standings.
The Kings won for the sixth straight time on Saturday, edging the host Grizzlies 4-2 with an empty-net goal in a fast-paced affair at The Q Centre.
Victoria’s advantage atop the division is now just six points, which could be down to four if the Kings can do it again this afternoon at 1 p.m. in Colwood. The Grizzlies have a game in hand on Powell River.
Tristan Mullin slipped a backhand by Grizzlies goalie Tony Rehm on a 4-on-4 5:37 into the third period to snap a 2-2 draw. Carter Turnbull then banked a long shot into the empty net in the waning seconds. It was his second goal of the game.
How good have the Kings been?
Kent Lewis’s club has now scored 39 goals and allowed just 10 this month. Since the Christmas break, they have tallied 44 times and surrendered 11.
They had lost four straight prior to Christmas break, outscored 19-4.
“They're a good hockey club. On paper the best club in the division to start the year. They played a sound game and we were just OK,” said disappointed Grizzlies general manager and head coach Craig Didmon.
“I thought we didn’t play that well and still we got to within an empty-net goal.”
Keyvan Mokhtari, Jamie Rome, Cam Thompson and Matthew Galajda all returned to the lineup for the Grizzlies. Galajda took a back seat to Rehm.
The Kings struck first as Turnbull jumped on a loose puck at 8:02 of the opening period as he had a gaping net with Rehm drawn to the far side to make an initial save.
A nice deflection by Thompson off a Jake Stevens shot tied it at 1-1 at 10:21 of the second period and just 35 seconds later Justin Michaelian gave the Grizzlies their first and only lead.
Cam Donaldson tied it at 2-2 at 14:37 of the middle frame.
The Grizzlies are now 27-9-3-4, while the Kings improve to 27-16-1-0.
Victoria had its chances, including a 3-on-1 break early in the second period and never got a shot off. About a minute later Kings goaltender Mitch Adamyk made a strong stop on Cole Pickup who was parked in the high slot.
The Grizzlies lacked discipline on the night, taking a pair of 10-minute misconducts and gave the Kings six power-play chances. Victoria also went 0-for-3 on the man advantage.
mannicchiarico@timescolonist.com
Twitter/tc_vicsports
