Trail Smoke Eaters – 2
Prince George Spruce Kings – 1
A pair of goals in the last five minutes and 25 saves from Logan Terness propelled the Trail Smoke Eaters to a dramatic 2-1 come-from-behind victory over the defending-champion Prince George Spruce Kings in Game 1 of their opening-round series.
Prince George defenceman Nick Bochen opened the score for the visiting team with a power-play goal late in the first period and the Spruce Kings held onto the lead until the late stages thanks to the stellar play of goaltender Jett Alexander, who finished the game with 35 saves.
After a scoreless second period, Trail finally broke through when Matt Osadick buried his team’s first of the playoffs. Just over a minute later, the comeback was completed when Smoke Eaters captain Philippe Lapointe gave his team the lead with just over three minutes to play and they held on for the win.
Game 2 goes tomorrow night back in Trail
Salmon Arm Silverbacks – 2
Victoria Grizzlies – 1
Ethan Langenegger stopped 23 of 24 shots and Luke Mylymok scored the game-winning goal with five minutes to play in the third period as the Salmon Arm Silverbacks defeated the Victoria Grizzlies 2-1 in Game 1 of their series. Alex DiPaolo got the Grizzlies on the board in the first period, but Salmon Arm defenceman Jeremy Gervais tied it in the second to knot things up heading into the third, setting up Mylymok for his late-game heroics. Victoria goalie Liam Souliere made 35 of 37 saves in a losing effort and was named third star.
Cowichan Valley Capitals – 6
Powell River Kings – 3
The Cowichan Valley Capitals rallied from a two-goal second-period deficit to top the Powell River Kings by a score of 6-3. Kings forward Dawson McKay scored the lone goal of the first period before Capitals forward Matthew Crasa tied things up in the second. Powell River went up 3-1 on goals from Reilly Moran and Ethan Schmunk before Brady Lynn cut into the lead with a goal late in the frame to make it a one-goal contest going into intermission. Cruz Cote scored 17 seconds into the third for Cowichan and they never looked back, scoring three more times on markers from Will Arquiett, Zach Brooks and Lynn again to take the game by three. Caps defenceman Dimitri Mikrogiannakis chipped in with three assists and was named second star.
Nanaimo Clippers – 6
Alberni Valley Bulldogs – 3
Ethan Scardina and Josh Bourne each had two goals and one assist as the Nanaimo Clippers doubled up the Alberni Valley Bulldogs 6-3 in Game 1 of the Island Division semifinal. Bourne opened the scoring 1:04 into the game, but Bulldogs forward Isaac Pasoal tied it midway through the period. Scardina replied for Nanaimo late in the period to make it 2-1 after one. The teams exchanged a flurry of goals in the second with Steven Agriogianis, Bourne and Scardina scoring for the Clippers and Jacob Bosse scoring twice for the Bulldogs to make it 5-3. Tim Washe scored the insurance marker in the third to make it a 6-3 final.
Penticton Vees – 4
West Kelowna Warriors – 1
The Penticton Vees scored four times in the third period to erase a one-goal deficit and beat the West Kelowna Warriors for the second night in a row, this time by a 4-1 margin. Just like last night, the Warriors scored the first goal of the game with Tyler Cristall potting his first of the playoffs with just over five to play in the first period. After a scoreless second frame, the Vees poured it on in the third, getting goals from Danny Weight, two from Jay O’Brien and another from Liam Malmquist to seal their Game 2 win. Penticton goalie Yaniv Perets made 22 saves for the win. Game 2 goes Sunday afternoon in West Kelowna.
Chilliwack Chiefs – 6
Surrey Eagles – 3
The Chilliwack Chiefs snapped a six-game losing skid to the Surrey Eagles tonight with a 6-3 win to open their first-round series. Kyle Penney and Brody Gagno scored 23 seconds apart in the first period to give the Chiefs a two-goal lead after one. Surrey’s Gabe Schovanek scored a minute into the second to cut into the lead, but Joey Larson and Peter Reynolds replied for Chilliwack to make it 4-1 heading into the third. Hudson Schandor and Schovanek both scored for the Eagles to make it a one-goal game, but Trevor Adams stopped their run just 12 seconds later and Larson netted his second of the game into an empty net to give his team the Game 1 win.
Coquitlam Express – 5
Langley Rivermen – 1
Massimo Rizzo had two goals and two assists and Jack Watson stopped 23 of 24 shots to earn the win as the Coquitlam Express skated to a 5-1 win over the Langley Rivermen in their series opener. Joey Berkopec got the scoring started in this one with a first-period goal that gave Coquitlam a lead after one before Rizzo and Will Margel made it 3-0 heading to the final frame. Nicholas Carabin and Rizzo added to the Express lead in the third before Sean Bunting got Langley on the board with a late power-play goal to break the shutout and make it a 5-1 final.
