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Playoff recap – March 22

Alex Newhook scored twice and Riley Hughes picked up three helpers to lead the Victoria Grizzlies to a 4-2 win over the visiting Powell River Kings that puts Victoria up 3-2 in the series.

Newhook opened the scoring with the only goal of the first period and after Ryan Brushett tied the score early in the second, Newhook got his second to put the Grizz ahead once again. The lead would be short-lived though as Jack Long got his first of the playoffs just 43 seconds after Newhook’s goal and the score was 2-2 heading to the third period.

The game remained tied until near the midway point of the final frame when Victoria got a power-play opportunity with Ryan Pouliot sent off for roughing. Kyle McGrath converted a play set up by Newhook and Hughes for what would be the winning goal. Marty Westhaver added an insurance goal shortly after and Kurtis Chapman closed the door on the Kings attack, making seven saves in the third and 26 on the night. Game 6 is Saturday night at 7 p.m. in Powell River.

In Wenatchee, Matt Dorsey’s power-play goal in overtime gave the Wild a 2-1 win over the Cowichan Valley Capitals that puts Wenatchee up 3-2 in the series. After a scoreless first, PJ Fletcher capitalized on the man advantage near the midway point of the second to give the Wild a 1-0 lead heading to the third. It looked like one goal might be enough but Doug Scott, with his first of the playoffs, tied the game at 13:05 of the third to set the stage for OT where Dorsey’s heroics won it for the Wild. Game 6 is Sunday at 7 p.m. in Cowichan Valley.

In Vernon, Matt Kowalski’s power-play goal at 15:04 of the second stoop up as the winner as the Vipers downed the Trail Smoke Eaters 5-2 to take a 3-2 lead in the series. Trail opened the scoring on a power play early in the first with Carter Jones tallying his sixth of the postseason. Connor Marritt scored shorthanded in the second to tie the game and Teddy Wooding put Vernon ahead shortly after. After Hayden Rowan equalized for Trail, it was Kowalski’s goal on the man advantage that put Vernon ahead to stay. Coleton Bilodeau added on for Vernon in the third and Wooding rounded out the scoring with an empty-netter. Game 6 is Saturday at 7 p.m. in Trail.