A three-goal first period turned out to be all the goals the Penticton Vees would need Friday night but they added three more for good measure in a 6-2 road win over the Vernon Vipers.
Joey Benik's power-play tally started things off for Penticton with Mike Reilly and Curtis Loik scoring late in the first. Michael Zalewski scored early in the second for Vernon but a Connor Reilly tally late in the second restored the three-goal edge.
Zalewski had his second of the night in the final stanza but it was sandwiched by goals from Travis St. Denis, whose two points put him back in the BCHL scoring lead, and Troy Stecher.
Merritt Centennials goalie Lino Chimienti earned the shutout with 25 saves in a 2-0 win over the visiting Surrey Eagles. The game was scoreless until late in the second when Evan Stack scored. Sean Maktaak's tally early in the second was the only other goal on the night.
Troy Paterson's OT winner gave the Cowichan Valley Capitals a 4-3 road win over the Salmon Arm SilverBacks. Morgan Zulinick's power-play marker near the midway point of the third had forced the game into OT after the teams had traded leads a couple of times during regulation.
In Nanaimo, the Clippers held a 2-0 edge after one on goals by Andrew Gladiuk and Graeme McCormack but the Langley Rivermen got three in the second to take the lead. The Clips tied it early in the third but Scott Moyer's second of the night wound up being the winner in a 4-3 final.
The Chilliwack Chiefs got 50 saves from Mitch Gillam but it wasn't enough in a 3-2 road loss to the Alberni Valley Bulldogs. The teams traded goals in the first with the 'Dogs' Dylan Nowakowski and Chiefs' Derek Huisman exchanging tallies. Josh Hansen put the Chiefs up with a shorthanded effort early in the second but Justin Morello and Tyler Berkholtz responed before the end of the second.
In Westside, Connor Dempsey set up three of the goals and the Warriors had five different goalscorers in a 5-2 win over the Coquitlam Express. The visitors opened the scoring on a goal by affiliate Zack Holstrom but the home side then scored five straight before Holstrom tallied again late in the game.
