The Powell River Kings fired 57 pucks on Cowichan Valley Capitals netminders in a 7-6 win that went back and forth and required two overtime periods to decide.
Up 2-0 just eight minutes in on goals by Daniel Schuler and Cohen Adair, the Kings saw the Caps storm back with a pair of their own from Jordan Grant and Matt Cassidy less than a minute apart late in the period.
Powell River got two quick ones from Chad Niddery to open the second only to see Matt Ridley, Adam Smith, Ridley again and Matt Cassidy produce the next four goals to put Cowichan Valley up two, which is how it stayed until the dying minutes.
That's when Mike Sones and first star Matt Garbowsky came through and forced overtime where Garbowsky ended it in 3-on-3 play for his fifth point of the night. Niddery and Cassidy each had four-point nights.
In Vernon, the Vipers claimed a 5-4 overtime win over the Prince George Spruce Kings but early on, it looked like an easy two points as they led 3-0 before the game was 10 minutes old. A Spruce Kings timeout halted the Snakes' momentum, allowing the visitors to get within one in the second. A Steve Weinstein power-play tally restored a two-goal Vernon lead but Ben Woodley's second of the game and Stephen Ryan's marker with the extra attacker sent it to overtime when John Knisley scored his second to clinch it for the Vipers.
In Nanaimo, the Penticton Vees played a textbook road game to claim a 2-1 over the Clippers. After a 0-0 first, Mark MacMillan and Curtis Loik put the Vees ahead. Nanaimo got one back in the third on an Andrew Gladiuk goal but that's as close as they'd get.
In Coquitlam, a three-point night from first star Destry Straight helped the Express to a 4-3 win over Langley. The teams alternated goals through the first two periods after Coquitlam's Michael Krgovich opened the scoring. Mark Begert's third-period goal proved the winner.
In Westside, the Salmon Arm SilverBacks met the Warriors for a third consecutive Friday. Mike Hammond and David Killip scored in the first on the way to a 5-3 'Backs win. Dustin Cave put the visitors up three early in the second but Izaak Berglund and Alex Grieve got the home side within one. Jarryd Ten Vaanholt restored the two-goal lead going into the third where Quinn Gould and Hammond exchanged markers.
In Surrey, first star Karel St. Laurent made 25 saves to earn his first shutout of the year in a 4-0 win over the Merritt Centennials. Linden Saip's first-period goal was the winner with Beau Orser, Jeff Vanderlugt and Robert Lindores adding tallies.
In Trail, the Smoke Eaters outshot the Quesnel Millionaires 38-24 but only eked out a 4-3 win on a late goal from Cullen Bradshaw. David Thompson opened the scoring for Quesnel on a power play in the first but Jordan Bauer responded for Trail. The Smokies led 3-2 into the third where Michael Spring tied it five minutes in only to see Bradshaw clinch it late.
In Alberni Valley, the Victoria Grizzlies scored a 7-2 win over the Bulldogs getting a goal and three assists from Joel Lowry. Alberni Valley opened the scoring on the 25th of the year by Casey Bailey but Victoria scored the next four, including two by Wesley Myron. Justin Fillion, Kyle St. Denis and Evan Richardson tallied in the third for the Grizz. Trent Dorais had the other Bulldogs goal.
