A valiant fight by the Cowichan Valley Capitals earned them a point in a 6-5 overtime loss to the visiting Powell River Kings but unfortunately the Caps needed two points to keep their playoff hopes alive.
The Caps opened scoring on Tyler Matheson's power play goal but the Kings held a 2-1 lead after one. Troy Paterson tied the game early in the second, Justin Dasilva gave the Kings the lead again and then Jordan Grant knotted it once more.
In the third, Chase Kaiser put the Caps ahead but Brenden Forbes and Dasilva responded for the Kings. Matheson's second of the game forced OT and kept the Caps playoff pulse beating but Matt Garbowsky dashed Cowichan Valley's hopes with the winner.
Grant had a goal and two assists for the Caps in his final game of the season and currently leads the league scoring race.
The Coquitlam Express secured the final Coastal Conference playoff spot with a 7-4 home win over the Surrey Eagles. Riley McIntosh scored less than a minute in and the Express never trailed on their way to the playoff-clinching win. Massimo Lamacchia had a goal and three helpers to earn first star. Coquitlam and Surrey will meet in the first round of the playoffs.
The Vernon Vipers secured first place in the Interior Conference and a first-round playoff bye with a 4-2 home win over the Trail Smoke Eaters. Two first-period goals from Kyle Murphy and another from David Robinson put the Vipers in control. Murphy's hat trick goal in the second clinched it though Scott Jacklin tallied for Trail in the third.
The Prince George Spruce Kings kept their slim playoff hopes alive earning a 2-2 draw with the Penticton Vees. PG goals by Dustin Beairsto and Brandon Watson bookended two Vees goals by Brendan O'Donnell. The tie gives the Spruce Kings 33 points with a game left. If they can win their last game and the Quesnel Millionaires don't win either of their final two, PG is in the playoffs by virtue of more wins.
Quesnel was shutout 6-0 by the Westside Warriors in Westside. Quinn Gould had two goals and two assists for the Warriors while Tyler Krause's opening goal was the winner.
The Langley Chiefs won a wild 7-6 overtime decision over the visiting Salmon Arm SilverBacks. Brad McBride opened scoring for the Chiefs but Salmon Arm's Jarryd Ten Vaanholt and Morgan Zulinick replied early in the second. Three straight Chiefs goals, including one by Matt Ius who was just back from injury, put them up two and they led 5-3 after two. In the third, Salmon Arm tied it at five, Brandon Thompson gave the Chiefs the lead back, Jayson Reardon forced OT and McBride scored the winner.
In Nanaimo, the Clippers scored a 3-2 win over the Alberni Valley Bulldogs and still have a chance to hurdle the Victoria Grizzlies for fourth in the Coastal Conference. The Clips led 2-0 after one on goals by Brayden Jaw and Andrew Gladiuk but Dylan Nowakowski and Sam Mitchell tied it for the 'Dogs. Victor Newell's late power play goal was the winner.
