The Powell River Kings executed a solid gameplan in their Game 2 match-up with the Langley Chiefs on Wednesday night, taking a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes and holding the Chiefs to just eight shots on the goal over the final two periods of a 5-3 home ice victory.
Jordan Grant put the home side on the board at the 8:59 mark of the first period and Daniel Carr doubled the Powell River lead late in the frame off a feed from Matt Garbowsky. Langley managed to hang around in the second despite a lack of offensive opportunities, and pulled within a goal on a Ryan Hankin tally midway through the frame. But the Kings, who always seemed to have an effective response on the night, restored the two-goal when Mitch Labreche scored late in the period.
Another Chiefs comeback attempt was muted in the third, as a goal by Tyler Miller was answered by power-play tallies from Mat Bodie and Garbowsky. Brad Bakken scored with less than a minute to go in regulation to pull Langley back within two, but the visitors would pull no closer.
With the victory, the Kings take a 2-0 lead as the series shifts back to the Lower Mainland for a pair of weekend games.
Meanwhile, in Alberni Valley, the Bulldogs evened their Coastal Conference semi-final series with the Nanaimo Clippers with a dramatic overtime win. Trailing 2-1 in the final minute of regulation, the Clippers forced an extra period when Colton Cyr beat Frank Slubowski just 38 seconds before the final buzzer.
The Bulldogs responded however, killing off a Nanaimo man-advantage in overtime before capitalizing on a power-play chance of their own. Mitch MacMillan, who scored 61 times during the regular season, converted on a play set up by linemates Mark MacMillan and David Dziuzynski to end the game at the 12:37 mark of OT.
Johnny Rogic had opened the scoring midway through the first off a Matt Hatch feed, and the lead stood up until Cody Bremner equalized on a late second period power-play. The Bulldogs looked to have counted the game winner when Ryan Renz scored with less than four minutes remaining in the third before Cyr sent the game beyond regulation.
Loic Boivin was once again spectacular between the pipes for Nanaimo, as the 19-year old turned aside 43 shots in a hard-luck loss. Alberni Valley's Slubowski netted first star honours with 29 saves and the win.
The Clippers now return home following a road split for Game 3 at the Frank Crane Arena on Thursday evening.
