A 4-7 showing on the power play and three goals and three assists from Devin Gannon gave the Cowichan Capitals the offence they needed in an 8-5 win over the visiting Langley Rivermen.
It was Teddy Bear Toss night at Island Savings Centre and fans got to hurl their stuffed animals at 6:06 of the first on Matt Brown's goal and the Caps held a 2-1 edge after one. Langley took the lead in the second on goals by Derek Sutliffe and Mike Tebbutt but Cowichan Valley responded with three straight power-play tallies including two from Gannon.
When Austin Plevy and Sutliffe scored in the third to get Langley back within one, Matt Grant scored the insurance marker for the Caps and then Gannon finished his hat trick with another power-play goal.
In Merritt, 1st Star Tyler Steel earned his second shutout of the season in a 3-0 win over the Trail Smoke Eaters. Brandon Pfeil scored the game-winner 44 seconds into the game and assiste on Evan Stack's second-period goal to take 2nd Star honours.
The Westside Warriors scored the first three goals of the game but the visiting Prince George Spruce Kings scored the final three to earn a 3-3 draw. There were six different goalscorers on the night with newly acquired Marcus Basara tallying the first goal of the game for Westside and Paul De Jersey scoring his 25th goal of the season for PG.
Another 3-3 tie resulted in Surrey with the Eagles and Coquitlam Express unable to decide a winner. Coquitlam held a 3-1 edge midway through the second getting goals from Alex Petan, John Siemer and Cody Michelle but Surrey rallied with a Tyler Morley goal and Brett Mulcahy's shorthanded equalizer in the third.
In Powell River, the Kings downed the Victoria Grizzlies 5-2 getting a goal and two helpers from defenceman Craig Dalrymple. Victoria held a 2-1 lead midway through the second but Teagan Waugh got they tying goal and Cohen Adair put the King up a goal going into the third where Daniel Schuler and Matt Scarth added tallies.
A five-goal second period gave the Penticton Vees a 6-2 road win over the Alberni Valley Bulldogs. The Vees never trailed in the game after Travis St. Denis opened scoring 1:25 into the game. Ryan Lough tied it for the 'Dogs but St. Denis would score again in the second and set up another to give the Vees a comfortable lead.
After a scoreless first in Salmon Arm, Chilliwack Chiefs forward Derek Huisman scored twice in the second to give the visitors all the offence they'd need in a 2-1 win over the SilverBacks. Bennett Hambrook tied the game for Salmon Arm before Huisman's second. Matthieu Tibbett and Kit Sitterley scored in the third for the Chiefs.
