Just a single game was decided by one goal on Saturday night and it was in Salmon Arm where the SilverBacks got the double-OT winner from Braden Pears to defeat the Langley Rivermen 5-4.
Langley held period leads of 3-2 and 4-3 but the 'Backs Alex Gillies tied it midway through the third setting the stage for Pears' heroics.
After a series of chances both ways, the defenceman finished off a play started by James Friedel and Gillies. Derek Sutliffe had the first and fourth goals for the Rivermen.
In Vernon, the Vipers got out to a 4-0 first-period lead on the Coquitlam Express with Adam Tambellini scoring one and setting up another. The Express got a pair back in the second from John Siemer but that was as close as it got as Brendan Persely potted a pair in the third for Vernon.
The Penticton Vees extended their winning streak to 23 while snapping Paul De Jersey's scoring streak at 21 with a 4-0 home win. Wade Murphy and Mario Lucia scored in the first, Logan Johnston and Bryce Gervais tallied in the third while Michael Garteig made 25 saves for the shutout.
Sean Maguire also turned in flawless goaltending for the Powell River Kings, making 36 stops in a 7-0 road win over the Alberni Valley Bulldogs. Craig Dalrymple scored first and last for the Kings while Teal Burns had a goal and three helpers.
In Merritt, the Centennials built a 4-0 lead after two on the Chilliwack Chiefs on their way to a 5-1 win. They got first-period goals from Brandon Bruce, Brayden Low and Tyler Martin and a second-period tally by Brendon Lamont. Kody Dhaliwal had the lone Chiefs goal before Chad Brears added the final Cents tally.
The visiting Surrey Eagles led 4-0 after one and cruised to a 12-3 defeat of the Victoria Grizzlies, who dressed five affiliate players. Brayden Jaw opened the scoring and went on to a three-goal, two-assist evening while 10 other Eagles had multi-point nights including Alex Hagen who had a goal and three helpers. Chase Kaiser, Michael Sandor and Myles Powell scored for the Grizz.
