The Cowichan Valley Capitals built a 3-0 lead and wound up getting the winner in the third off the stick of Paul Selleck in a 5-3 win on home ice over the Wenatchee Wild that gives the Caps a 2-1 series lead.
Scoreless until late in the opening frame, it was Brady Lynn that ignited the home crowd corralling a loose puck in the slot and beating Austin Park making it 1-0 Caps after one. In the second, Cole Broadhurst and Niko Esposito-Selivanov scored goals just over five minutes apart to make it a three-goal Caps edge which prompted Wenatchee to make a switch in net with Cal Sandquist replacing Park.
The Wild appeared to rally around the change and got goals in the second from Lucas Sowder and Nathan Iannone to make it a one-goal game heading to the third. In the final frame, Wentchee tied the score on a Trevor Griebel marker but it would remain even for just 3:30 as Selleck got the go-ahead goal and the Caps hung on from there with an empty-net goal from Preston Brodziak to seal the deal. Game 4 goes Wednesday at 7 p.m. in Cowichan Valley.
In Prince George, the Spruce Kings became the first team to move on to Round 3 as they finished off the visiting Chilliwack Chiefs with a 3-1 win. Max Coyle opened the scoring for PG in the opening minute of the game and Chong Min Lee scored what would prove to be the winner later in the first. After a scoreless second period, Chilliwack got on the board and within one on a shorthanded effort by Brett Rylance but that would be the only puck to beat Logan Neaton on the night. Dustin Manz capped a stellar series for himself with the insurance marker at 18:56, his fourth goal and seventh point of the series. The Spruce Kings will now await the winner of the Powell River-Victoria series in the semifinals.
Levi Glasman’s overtime goal delivered a huge 3-2 home win in Game 4 for the Powell River Kings as they tied their series 2-2 with the Victoria Grizzlies. Ben Berard opened the scoring in the first for the Kings but Victoria soon responded on a Riley Hughes goal just 48 seconds later. Marty Westhaver put the visitors up one with a goal late in the opening frame. Neither team scored in the second period but in the third, Ryan Brushett was able to even the score with just over five minutes remaining in regulation, setting the stage for OT. In the extra session, Mitch Williams circled the net and put the puck to the crease where Glasman was able to direct it home to win the game and tie the series. Game 5 will be Friday at 7 p.m. in Victoria.
Jesse Lansdell’s second goal of the game, late in the third period, was the winner for the Vernon Vipers in a 4-3 road win over the Trail Smoke Eaters that makes the series now 2-1 Trail. Kent Johnson and Lansdell traded tallies in the first and Johnson scored again in the second to make it 2-1 Trail after 40 minutes. In the third, Vernon tied the game on a Coleton Bilodeau goal and went ahead just 24 seconds later on Connor Marritt’s tally but Carter Jones drew the score even again for Trail with a goal at 13:51. It appeared the game was headed to overtime but with just 72 seconds remaining, Lansdell struck again as he followed up a Jagger Williamson rush and potted the winner. Game 4 will be Wednesday at 7 p.m. in Trail.
