March 16, 2019 Victoria, BC ( ISN ) – The Victoria Grizzlies traded goal for goal with the Powell River Kings, but fell 6-5 in overtime Saturday night at the Q-Centre in Colwood to split their 2 two game, 2nd round home opener 1-1.
Kings’ Ben Berard would bat in the loose rebound in front of Grizzlies Kurtis Chapman to find the back of the net for the winner with four minutes remaining in OT for the win.
With the loss the Grizzlies will now take the seven game series on the road, travelling to Powell river for the next two games, and a chance to pull ahead before returning for game five Friday back at home.
After peppering the Kings 51-20 in shots on goal in game one, the Grizzlies looked to open game two with the same intensity as they did in their opening game. Powell River’s defense was equal to the task out of the gate in game two, trading shots on goal most of game two. Net minder Mitch Adamyk would turn aside 39/44 shots on net for his first win of the series. The Grizzlies puck stopper Chapman would fair equal to his Kings counterpart despite the loss, turning aside 37/43 shots.
Powell River would take a two goal lead to open the first period to sit down the partisan Grizzly crowd. Kings’ Josh Cablenz would open the scoring on a even strength marker, and Ryan Brushett would add a powerplay goal two minutes later to set the Grizzlies back on their skate heals temporarily. The Kings would be successful on the powerplay, scoring 2 goals on three chances. Grizzlies’ team MVP Alex Newhook would score his sixth goal of the playoffs, one minute later, allowing the 1177 hometown fans in attendance to breath a sigh of relief. Victoria’s comeback wasn’t finished as Jeremy Bucheler would score his first goal of the post season to tie the score going in to the first intermission.
Victoria’s Alex Campbell, and Powell River’s Ben Thomas would trade goals in the second frame to knot the score 3-3 going into the second intermission.
Powell River would hold puck possession most of the third period, but what puck possession the Grizzlies were afforded would find King’s netminder Adamyk. Facing sixteen shots on goal, Adamyk would be beaten twice in third period, as both teams would continue to trade goals to 5-5 tie after regulation time. Victoria’s Ryan Nolan would score first, his second of the playoffs, but Powell River would reply fifty seconds later on sneaky back hander by Levi Glasman that would beat Chapman five hole.
Alex Campbell, the game’s first star, would score his second of the game unassisted on a loose rebound glove side off Adamyk . Powell River King’s Levi Glasman, snubbed for game star honors, would score the tying goal and his second goal of the period at the eleven minute mark to send the game to OT.
Both teams would trade scoring chances in the extra frame, but the Grizzlie’s tempt fate first when Grizzlies’ Cameron Thompson, left in alone front of Adamyk , would have a gift-wrapped opportunity to seal the win for his team when on a defensive King’s break down, would be the benefactor of a bouncing puck in the crease, but couldn’t pull the trigger for the winner. Powell River’s Ben Berard would get his chance five minutes later, beating Chapman on the one timer at point blank range for the 6-5 win.
The Grizzlies now travel to Powell River for games three and four of the series.
First Star – Alex Campbell – Grizzlies
Second Star – Josh Coblenz – Kings
Third Star – Jeremie Bucheler – Grizzlies
