A cautious start played out in Vernon as the Vipers hosted the Powell River Kings but after the Snakes' David Robinson broke the ice in the second period, the home side was able hand the Kings just their seventh loss of the season in a 3-2 decision.
It was a meeting of the BCHL's two top defensive teams and after a scoreless first, Robinson was first onto the scoresheet with a power play goal with the only assist going to goalie Kirby Halcrow.
Vernon pushed the lead to 2-0 early in the third on Bryce Kakoske's tally but the Kings didn't roll over, coming back with two goals of their own to tie it. Andrew Pettitt got the visitors on the board and Cohen Adair tied it on the power play just over ten minutes later. But the tie would be short lived as Dylan Walchuk potted the game-winner just a minute after.
Vernon and Powell River combined for just 48 shots on net. The teams remain the last in the BCHL with single-digit loss totals.
Despite more shots on net, there was another low-scoring game in Victoria as the Grizzlies overcame an early deficit to beat the Surrey Eagles 2-1. Hayden Trupp put the Eagles in front early but Victoria got second-period goals from Taylor Pernerowski and David Morley to claim the win. Each team had 36 shots on net and Kyle St. Denis earned second star playing his first game of the season for Victoria.
The Merritt Centennials overcame a 3-1 second-period deficit to score a 4-3 over time win in Quesnel over the Millionaires. Michael Spring and Skyler Smutek gave the Mills a 2-0 lead in the second but Dustin Lebrun cut the lead in half going to the third. Thomas Hardy put Quesnel up two but Regan Soquila and Evan Stack scored to equalize and Max Vallis potted the winner in the first overtime.
There was more overtime in an all-Island meeting in Cowichan Valley between the Capitals and Alberni Valley Bulldogs with the visitors taking the two points. Jordan Grant had a hat trick for the Caps but he was the only one to beat the Bulldogs' Frank Slubowski. Still, the Caps held a 3-2 edge early in the third but Kenney Morrison's tally meant overtime where Dylan Nowakowski ended it at 32 seconds of the second OT.
Two Destry Straight goals inside the first 10 minutes put the Coquitlam Express on track for a 5-3 win in Penticton over the Vees. Coquitlam built a 3-0 lead on Massimo Lamacchia's goal early in the second before Brendan O'Donnell could reply for the Vees. Jason Grecica restored the three-goal Express edge though goals from Garrett Milan and Joey Laleggia brought the home team within one but Garrick Perry iced it into an empty net.
Three players had three points each for the Westside Warriors as they downed the Salmon Arm SilverBacks 6-3 in Salmon Arm. Alex Grieve, Quinn Gould and Kyle Singleton each had three points apiece as the Warriors went 3-4 on the power play and got 37 saves from Kevin Boyle. Devin Gannon scored twice and Mike Hammond got the other for the Gorillas with Jayson Reardon tallying three helpers.
