In a final preview of what will be a first-round playoff matchup, the Victoria Grizzlies downed the host Nanaimo Clippers 3-2 on Dayne Finnson’s double-overtime goal with just 13 seconds to go.
The Grizzlies led 2-0 after one on goals by Nathan Looysen and Lucas Clark on the power play but the Clippers rallied in the second with a power-play tally from Lucas Finner and the tying goal from Sean Buchanan.
It was scoreless for the third period and the first overtime session but at 4:47 of double-OT, Finnson converted from Cam Thompson to give Victoria the win. Matthew Galajda got the win making 15 of 16 saves after coming on at the 14:20 mark of the second. Evan DeBrouwer made 29 saves for Nanaimo.
A three-goal second period paved the way for the Trail Smoke Eaters in a 3-1 home win over the Vernon Vipers. After a scoreless first, Kale Howarth and Troy Ring scored on the power play and Josh LaFramboise tallied shorthanded to put Trail up three. Vernon got one back in the third on a goal by Jimmy Lambert but that’s all they could get past Linden Marshall on the night as he made 39 saves for the win.
Mat Robson made all 27 saves and the Penticton Vees got all their three goals in the third period in a 3-0 road win over the Chilliwack Chiefs. With the game scoreless after 40 minutes, Nic Jones tallied twice in the third and Duncan Campbell potted an empty-netter shorthanded to seal the deal. Josh Bolding made 25 saves for Chilliwack in his first BCHL start.
The Cowichan Valley Capitals secured the No. 3 seed in the Island Division with a 2-1 home win over the Alberni Valley Bulldogs. Mitch Skapski on the man advantage and John Sladic at even strength provided all the Caps’ offence in the first. Trevor Cosgrove got the ‘Dogs goal on the power play in the second. Lane Michasiw made 37 saves for the win. Cowichan will play the Powell River Kings in Round 1 starting March 3 in Powell River.
The Wenatchee Wild got goals from five different scorers on the way to a 5-1 road win over the Langley Rivermen. Matt Baker opened the scoring 2:37 into the game and after Max Kaufman tied it on the power play for Langley, AJ Vanderbeck got the winner for the Wild. Charlie Combs and Troy Conzo added on in the second and Jimmy O’Brien rounded out the scoring in the third. Devin Cooley made 21 saves for the win.
Stephan Seeger, Brett Jewell and Zach Zorn scored twice each for the Merritt Centennials in an 8-3 home win over the West Kelowna Warriors. Seeger got both his goals in the first with Quin Foreman and Parm Dhaliwal also tallying in the opening frame for the Warriors to make it 2-2 after 20 minutes. Jewell bagged his pair in the second and Zorn got his first to make it 5-2 Cents after two. In the third, Henry Cleghorn and Zach Court added on for Merritt and after Chase Dubois got the final Warriors goal, Zorn tallied for Merritt. Jacob Berger made 30 saves for the win. Despite the loss, West Kelowna can still grab the No. 3 seed in the Interior with a win Saturday in Salmon Arm.
Ben Poisson’s goal in the second period stood up as the winner for the Prince George Spruce Kings in a 4-1 road win over the Coquitlam Express. Jake Brien got the Express on the board first but Jarod Hovde replied for PG and teams went to the first intermission tied. Poisson’s goal came at 8:09 of the second; Bryan Allbee and Hovde added on in the third. Tavin Grant made 20 saves for the win while Lawson Fenton stopped 43 for the Express.
