The Merritt Centennials used a potent power play in the third period to come from behind and hand the Trail Smoke Eaters their second straight defeat.
Trail built a 2-0 lead in the first period on goals from Cullen Bradshaw and Sam Mellor but couldn't solve Merritt netminder Lino Chimienti after that.
Dustin Lebrun replied for Merritt on the power play late in the first and after a scoreless second period, the Cents power play went to work again in the third period. Billy Marshall tied the game when Adam Boytinck was sent off for boarding and Reece Wilcox potted the winner less than a minute later.
For the Smokies, the loss came on the heels of a 4-1 defeat to Vernon and allowed the Salmon Arm SilverBacks to keep their lead on top of the Interior Conference.
Meanwhile, in Nanaimo, the Clippers staved off a comeback effort by the Cowichan Valley Capitals to hang on for a 4-3 win. Cowichan Valley trailed 3-1 heading into the final frame but scored twice on the power play and outshot the Clippers 12-4, getting to within a goal with less than a minute remaining. The teams combined for six power play goals on the night with Sam Lebrecque netting a pair in the first to earn first star.
In Prince George, the Salmon Arm SilverBacks held their lead at the top of the Interior Conference with a 6-3, come-from-behind win over the Spruce Kings. Prince George led 3-1 after 40 minutes but the Gorillas used five third-period goals, including three on the power play, to claim victory. Jarryd Ten Vaanholt's goal and assist were good enough for first star.
In Coquitlam, a wild third period saw the Express and the Penticton Vees exchange six goals as the visitors skated to a 7-5 win. Penticton led 4-2 heading into the third only to see Coquitlam score three straight to build a one-goal lead. But Brendan O'Donnell tied it on the power play and Steven Iacobellis scored the go-ahead marker shortly after to get the lead back. Joey Holka's empty-netter sealed it for the Vees.
In Langley, the Victoria Grizzlies used a fast start to build a 3-0 before hanging on to down the Chiefs 5-3. Wesley Myron, David Morley and Joel Lowry each scored for Victoria before Langley could respond. The score was 4-2 at the second intermission and the teams exchanged a goal in the third with Morley netting his second of the game.
In Alberni Valley, the Powell River Kings used a barrage of shots in the first and second periods to wear down Bulldogs' goalie Frank Slubowski and earn a 4-1 road win. The Kings fired 16 shots on goal in the first and 14 in the second getting goals from Steven Schmidt, Andrew Pettitt and Jon Jutzi along the way. Tyler Berkholtz tied the game briefly early in the second for Alberni Valley before the Kings took control. Matt Garbowsky's empty-net goal iced it for Powell River.
Cents power play keys win over Trail
