Cowichan Valley Capitals – 7
Powell River Kings – 6 (OT)
Primo Self had a hat trick and Brady Lynn registered a two-point night, including the game-winning goal with just over six to play in the first overtime period as the Cowichan Valley Capitals outlasted the Powell River Kings 7-6 in a wild Game 2 to take a 2-0 series lead.
The goals came early and often in this one as the two Island Division rivals traded chances throughout the first period. Self, Matthew Crasa and Austin Chorney tallied for the Capitals, while Brett Roloson, Jacob Slipec and Ethan Schmunk scored for the Kings to make it a 3-3 game after one.
Self wasted little time in the second, completing his hat trick with a pair of goals midway through the period to give his team the lead, which was extended by a Cullen Ferguson goal, but Jacob Badal scored shortly after to cut the deficit to two at intermission.
Devin Leduc got Powell River even closer with his first of the postseason halfway through the period and Levi Glasman tied the game in dramatic fashion with just 12 seconds to play to force overtime.
The shots were 11-7 for the Kings in the extra frame, but it was Lynn who tracked a bouncing puck and golfed it over Thomas Wardle’s shoulder and into the net to give Cowichan the win. Game 3 is set for Tuesday night in Powell River.
Trail Smoke Eaters – 2
Prince George Spruce Kings – 1 (OT)
The first overtime game of the night happened in Trail and it was Smoke Eaters forward Owen Ozar providing the heroics with his first goal of the postseason 6:34 into the extra frame to give his team a 2-1 win and a 2-0 series lead. After a scoreless first period, BCHL MVP and regular season leading scorer Kent Johnson got his first of the postseason late in the second to make it 1-0 heading to the third. 16-year-old Fin Williams evened things up for the Spruce Kings with a goal of his own late in the game, setting the stage for Ozar’s winner. For the second night in a row, both goalies were excellent as Trail goalie Logan Terness stopped 24 of 25 shots, while Prince George keeper Jett Alexander made 21 saves on 23 attempts.
Chilliwack Chiefs – 2
Surrey Eagles – 0
Arlo Merritt and Ethan Bowen each tallied power-play goals and Mathieu Caron stopped all 32 shots he faced to earn the shutout as the Chilliwack Chiefs blanked the Surrey Eagles 2-0 in Game 2 of their first-round series. Merritt got the Chiefs on the board with his first of the playoffs early in the opening frame and Bowen notched his first of the postseason early in the second and that’s all Chililwack would need as Caron was unbeatable on this night. Eagles goalie Thomas Scarfone made 22 saves on 24 shots in a losing effort. Chilliwack now leads the series 2-0 heading to Surrey for Game 3 on Monday night.
Vernon Vipers – 3
Wenatchee Wild – 0
The final series to start the playoffs got underway tonight and it was Vernon goalie Reilly Herbst stealing the show as he stopped all 30 shots he faced to blank the Wenatchee Wild 3-0. Connor Sleeth got the scoring going in the first period, which was followed by power-play goals from Ryan Shostak in the second and Connor Marritt in the third to give the Vipers the series lead. Game 2 goes tomorrow night back in Wenatchee.
Nanaimo Clippers – 6
Alberni Valley Bulldogs – 3
Josh Bourne continued his torrid start to the playoffs with a five-point night and Josh Kagan and Devon Mussio scored a pair of goals each as the Nanaimo Clippers took Game 2 of their series over the Alberni Valley Bulldogs by a 6-3 final for the second night in a row. Mussio got the scoring started with a first-period goal, but Olivier Fizet and Ryan Doolin answered for the Bulldogs to make it 2-1 Alberni after one. Clippers defenceman Trevor LeDonne tied things up in the second before Matthew Grouchy restored the Bulldogs lead shortly after, making it 3-2. Before the end of the frame, Nanaimo bounced back with markers from Mussio and Kagan to take a 4-3 lead heading to the third where they broke things open on goals by Kagan and Bourne to make it a 6-3 final. Bourne has eight points in his team’s first two playoff games and has the early points lead in the BCHL playoffs.
Salmon Arm Silverbacks – 4
Victoria Grizzlies – 0
Ethan Langenegger made 31 saves to earn the shutout and Drew Bennett had two goals and an assist as the Salmon Arm Silverbacks beat the Victoria Grizzlies 4-0 to take a 2-0 series lead. It was 0-0 after one, but Luke Mylymok, Daniel Rybarik and Bennett each scored for Salmon Arm in the second to give them a three-goal lead after two. Bennett scored his second of the game in the third, both of his goals coming with the man advantage, and made it a 4-0 final. Through the first two games of the postseason, Langenegger has stopped 54 of 55 shots and has a .982 save percentage.
