Powell River Kings’ first-round playoff series against Cowichan Valley Capitals is shaping up as a battle between two very different teams.
Making a 15th consecutive trip to the BC Hockey League (BCHL) playoffs, Kings are taking on a Capitals squad that had not qualified for post-season play since 2012. In an eight-game, regular-season series between the clubs, both were undefeated at home.
As a result of finishing second in Island Division standings, Powell River opened its series at home Friday night in front of a large crowd.
Adam Brubacher opened the scoring, giving the Kings a 1-0 lead after one period. The teams traded goals in the second frame with Brubacher scoring again for the Kings. Cowichan rallied to take a 3-2 third-period lead before Liam Lawson tied the game and Carter Turnbull added a go-ahead goal. However, with less than one second remaining on the clock, Cowichan tied the game at four to force overtime.
An error by officials forced the teams to play an incorrect overtime format. Teams were given a short, two-minute break and asked to play a 10-minute overtime period. BCHL rules dictate a full 17-minute intermission and a 20-minute period after regulation.
Regardless of the error, Kings earned the overtime win as Austin Kamer rushed end-to-end for his first goal of the playoffs and a 5-4 Kings win. Jeff Smith earned the victory in goal, stopping 26 shots.
“Andy [Stevens] gave me a nice breakout pass. I had some room on the defenceman, so I took it wide and just cut to the middle, put one on net and it was nice to see it go in,” said Kamer. “I slid it five-hole and fell after the goal so by the time I got up all the boys were on me.”
Game two followed on Saturday night in front of another big crowd. After an up-tempo first period where the home team took a 1-0 lead thanks to a Jonny Evans goal, Kings poured pressure on in the second period. Turnbull and Tristan Mullin added goals for a 3-0 advantage.
Capitals began to unravel in the third period, providing the Kings with multiple power plays. Mullin and Turnbull each added their second goals of the game with the man advantage and Chris Protopoulos rounded out the scoring. Smith kicked out 25 of 26 Cowichan shots in the 6-1 win.
“Our first period was very similar to game one where we had a lot of turnovers, but the longer the game went on, we skated better, played with better energy and played better down low,” said Kings head coach Kent Lewis. “We have to capitalize more on the power play and the penalty kill needs to work on being in shooting lanes and limit opportunities.”
With Sunday off, Powell River travelled to Cowichan for game three on Monday night.
Capitals held a 3-0 lead through 40 minutes before Turnbull converted on an early third-period power play to cut the deficit to two. Capitals restored the three-goal cushion not long after, but that goal sparked the Kings.
Lawson scored at 5:23 and Kamer made it a one-goal game five minutes later. With 1:06 remaining in regulation, Curtis McCarrick scored his first goal in 15 games to tie the contest at four.
“I owed that one to the guys after missing a pretty good chance in the second period by shooting it wide,” said McCarrick about the game-tying goal. “This one helps my confidence moving forward. Scoring with a minute left, it’s definitely one of the biggest goals of my career.”
Early in the overtime session, Capitals scored off a Kings turnover to earn the club its first playoff win since a March 2012 overtime victory against Surrey. Smith stopped 22 shots in the loss.
Game four was held on Tuesday, March 8, at Island Savings Centre in Duncan. Results were not available at press time.
Game five of the best-of-seven series takes place at 7 pm Thursday, March 10, at Hap Parker Arena. If necessary, game six will be played in Duncan on Saturday, March 11, while game seven is scheduled for Powell River on Sunday, March 12.
