For now at least, the Coquitlam Express hold down the seventh and final playoff position in the Interior Conference after a come-from-behind 3-2 road win over the Victoria Grizzlies.
Victoria led 2-1 after the first period on a pair of goals by Kyle St. Denis while Michael Krgovich replied for Coquitlam.
First star Khaleed Devji stopped all 24 shots the Grizzlies mustered in the second and third periods and second star Massimo Lamacchia tallied twice in the middle frame to give the Express a lead they wouldn't relinquish.
There were only two penalties the entire evening and each team was 0-1 on the power play.
The Cowichan Valley Capitals failed to keep pace with Coquitlam as they dropped a 4-1 decision to the visiting Nanaimo Clippers. Cowichan Valley cut into a two-goal Clips lead when Tyler Matheson scored midway through the second. But Nanaimo iced it in the third with goals from Ryan Stanimir and Kyle Kramer.
The Merritt Centennials upended the Vernon Vipers 3-2 in overtime in Vernon. Cents goals from Dustin Lebrun in the first and Regan Soquila in the third bookended second-period Vernon goals by Darren Nowick and Dylan Walchuk. Chad Brears ended it late in the first overtime.
The Salmon Arm SilverBacks were able to pick up a bit of ground on Vernon with an 4-3 overtime road win in Trail. The b'Backs got three of their goals from defencemen including the opener by Jayson Reardon. Trail scored the next three including a pair by Travis St. Denis to lead 3-1 going into the third where goals by Cody Michelle and Charlie Vasaturo forced OT. Blueliner Vasaturo scored the winner in the first overtime period.
The Surrey Eagles scored four in the first and Powell River Kings scored four in the second but it was the pair the Eagles also added in the middle frame that proved the difference in a 6-4 road win. Tyler Morley scored two in the first for Surrey and Chad Niddery scored two in the second for Powell River. Brad McGowan scored the winner while Morley's brother Brandon had a goal and an assist.
The Penticton Vees trailed host Prince George Spruce Kings 1-0 after one on a goal by Jeff Earnest but rattled off four straight goals from four different players to earn a 4-1 win. Mark MacMillan tied it in the second and Joey Holka potted the power-play winner in the third. Myles McCauley and Logan Johnston (empty net) added others.
The Westside Warriors ambushed the Quesnel Millionaires with six straight goals to begin the game including four in the first period in an 8-2 road win. First-star defenceman Tom Kroshus had two goals and an assist while Max and Tyler French each had a goal and an assist for Westside. Rigby Burgart and Chris Kerr scored for the Mills.
