In a battle of steely wills in the crease, Kurtis Chapman鈥檚 proved the steeliest.
He wouldn鈥檛 have been out of place in Hamilton or Pittsburgh.
Chapman, who overcame the loss of his best friend in an Alberta car crash at the beginning of the sa国际传媒 Hockey League playoffs, made 35 saves to backstop the Victoria Grizzlies to a 3-1 victory on Monday evening at Hap Parker Arena in Powell River as he returned to the crease after an injury in Game 1 of the series sent him to the sidelines.
The result narrowed Powell River鈥檚 lead in the best-of-seven Island Division final to 2-1.
Powell River goaltender Matteo Paler-Chow, the difference in the first two games of the series at The Q Centre, made 32 saves and was named third star to Chapman鈥檚 first-star accolade. Going into the game, the whippet-quick five-foot-11, 180-pound Vancouver-native Paler-Chow sported a lights-out 1.89 goals-against average and .944 save percentage.
鈥淧aler-Chow was good again, but Kurtis [Chapman] stepped up to the task tonight,鈥� said Grizzlies GM and head coach Craig Didmon.
The road remained kind for Victoria, which is 3-1 in the playoffs away from home, and only 2-4 at The Q Centre.
鈥淲e鈥檝e been tighter on the road and it seems to bring us together,鈥� said Didmon. 鈥淏ut it鈥檚 also because we seem to get better deeper into each series.鈥�
The sixth goal of the playoffs by Powell River鈥檚 Ben Berard, committed to Cornell of the NCAA for 2019-20, at 11:51 of the first period stood as the difference entering the third period Monday. Cameron Thompson鈥檚 short-handed goal tied it for Victoria at 4:58 of the third period before Marty Westhaver scored the winner at 15:20. Thompson then added an empty-netter for the latter鈥檚 second goal of the night and seventh of the playoffs.
鈥淲e had a lot of chances, and hit five posts, and carried the play,鈥� said Didmon.
鈥淚t was a matter of if we get one, we鈥檒l get the others, and then we get our opening goal short-handed, of all things.鈥�
Game 4 is tonight in Powell River and the fifth game Friday night at The Q Centre.
