With 13 games remaining in the BC Hockey League regular season, barring a complete collapse, Powell River Kings will make the playoffs for the 24th time since moving to town in 1988.
The question now is whether the team will finish in first or second place in Island Division standings. Currently, thanks to a seven-game winning streak, Kings are in second place, four points back of Victoria Grizzlies.
Now in the final stretch of regular season play, the team is where head coach Kent Lewis wants it to be.
“We’re now down to the last little bit and guys are understanding roles and what they need to bring to this club to be successful,” said Lewis. “You’re going to end up where you’re going to end up for standings, but the regular season is a great opportunity to really get your team to where you need to be when it comes to game 58 and beyond.”
Scoring punch
In the past, Kings have traditionally been referred to as a team that is more defensive than offensive.
“I get a kick out of hearing that when we’ve had some of the most gifted offensive players in the league,” said Lewis. “Scoring goals isn’t easy when you play good teams in the playoffs. It’s whether you can roll that over many lines and this year we have scoring throughout, and quite a few guys in double digits.”
Kings have four of the top 10 scorers in the league, with Johnny Evans in fourth place, Cam Donaldson tied with two others in fifth spot and Tristan Mullin in eighth.
Of late, goals and assists are coming from everywhere in the lineup. Lewis said he cannot pick one line that stands out.
“You can’t rely on one line,” he said, “and we haven’t.”
Blueliners
Lewis strengthened his defence just before the trade deadline with the addition of former Kings’ defenceman Carmine Buono and third-round NHL draft pick Matt Cairns. The pair bring size and dimension to the defensive corps, offensive rush and power play.
“I like that we’ve added in Buono and Cairns, guys that can play nasty,” said Lewis. “It’s important, you have to be aggressive.”
Between the pipes
Lewis has used both goaltenders so far this season, with veteran Brian Wilson (30 games played) carrying most of the load. Rookie Mitch Adamyk has been the starter on 19 occasions. Wilson is in fifth spot in BCHL goaltending, with 17 wins, 10 losses, 78 goals against and a 2.83 goals-against average.
Rookies
Cam Donaldson has been gold for the Kings. The young sniper has led all rookies in league scoring since the beginning of the season and is now 18 points ahead of his nearest rival with 30 goals, 27 assists and 57 points. Highly touted Ben Berard has also settled in and found his stride.
Lewis plans to focus on positives more than negatives during the final stretch and will continue to stress his team philosophy of playing hard, he said.
“There are always weaknesses on teams,” he said. “Every team has a weakness; I’m not going to point to any specifics. It’s just being consistent and continuing to be hungry.”
Five of the Kings’ final 13 games take place on the road. After a three-game trip with games in Salmon Arm, Vernon and Langley, Powell River returns home for eight straight games at Hap Parker Arena.
