Photo credit: Garrett James Photography
Langley Rivermen – 3
Alberni Valley Bulldogs – 2
Ajeet Gundarah stopped 21 of 23 shots and Riley Wallack’s goal midway through the third period stood up as the game-winner as the Langley Rivermen thwarted a third-period rally from the Alberni Valley Bulldogs to win Game 1 of their second-round series by a 3-2 margin and hand Alberni their first loss of the postseason.
This contest had all the intensity and tight checking expected of a playoff game. Vitaly Levyy got things started for the Rivermen with the opening goal of the game, his first of the postseason, 9:17 into the first period. The Bulldogs tied it up shortly after on a Matthew Maltais goal and it was 1-1 after one. Tyler Schleppe scored the lone goal of the middle frame on the power play and Wallack got his fifth of the playoffs in the third to build a 3-1 Langley lead. Brandon Buhr scored his sixth of the postseason to cut the lead to one, but Alberni could not solve Gundarah after that.
The Rivermen power play went 1-for-2 on the night, while the Bulldogs did not receive a man advantage opportunity.
Alberni will look to regain home-ice advantage in Game 2 tomorrow night.
Nanaimo Clippers – 2
Chilliwack Chiefs – 1
Brody Waters and Sean Donaldson each scored early in the third period and that was all the offence the Nanaimo Clippers would need as they relied on a strong night from goaltender Cooper Black to earn a 2-1 road win over the Chilliwack Chiefs in Game 1 of their second-round series. Chad Muller scored his first of the playoffs for Chilliwack later in the third, but it wasn’t enough. Connor Milburn had a glorious opportunity to tie the game late, but his chance from the slot rang off the post and bounced away from trouble. Chilliwack outshot Nanaimo 34 to 20 in the game, but Black and his 33 saves were the difference. He was named first star. The teams are back at it for Game 2 tomorrow night.
West Kelowna Warriors – 6
Salmon Arm Silverbacks – 2
The West Kelowna Warriors got huge offensive performances from John Evans and Tyler Cristall as well as clutch goaltending from Johnny Derrick en route to a 6-2 victory over the Salmon Arm Silverbacks in the first game of their Round 2 series. Evans had two goals and two assists, while Cristall chipped in with a goal and two helpers and Derrick stopped 32 of the 34 shots he faced to earn his fifth straight victory. Chase Dafoe and Charles-Alexis Legault also recorded multi-point efforts for the Warriors. Simon Tassy and Noah Serdachny scored for Salmon Arm in the loss. The Silverbacks will look to bounce back in Game 2 tomorrow.
