The Penticton Vees took a commanding 3-0 series lead over the Quesnel Millionaires but had to overcome a lot to get there on Monday.
First was the Vees' bus misadventure that saw them wind up in a snowbank near Kamloops, forcing puckdrop to be pushed back half an hour. Then there was the show Mills' goalie Adam Harris put on the the Quesnel crease as Penticton outshot the home side 50-26 but just managed a 4-3 win in extra time.
Quesnel led 1-0 after one on a goal by Chris Kerr but the game was tied 1-1 going into the third after James Polk's unassisted marker. In the final frame, the teams alternated goals starting with Quesnel's Shawn Mueller. Vees' Joey Benik followed soon after then Spencer Graboski and Logan Johnston with 11 seconds left to force OT.
In the extra period, Joey Holka was the hero for Penticton, converting a setup by Troy Stecher and Derik Johnson. Harris made 46 saves in the loss.
In Trail, there was more OT as the Smoke Eaters took a 2-1 series lead with a 5-4 victory over Westside. The teams swapped intermission leads with Travis St. Denis staking Trail to the lead after one and Alex Grieve's second of the game putting the Warriors up 3-2 after two. In the third, Westside went up two goals with Dru Morrison's tally but Ben Matthews and St. Denis again forced OT where Sam Mellor's unassisted goal won it.
Another overtime game saw the visiting Salmon Arm SilverBacks take a convincing 3-0 series lead on the Merritt Centennials with 4-3 win. SilverBacks'Devin Gannon scored the first two goals of the game but Regan Soquila and Kameran Crawford tied it in the second. Brett Knowles put the 'Backs in front again but Jeff Jones forced OT with just over seven minutes left in regulation. Paul De Jersey finished a play from Knowles at 11:01 of OT to win it.
Nanaimo got in the win column at home with a 6-2 triumph over the Victoria Grizzlies and now trail that series 2-1. First-period goals from Andrew Gladiuk, Sam Labrecque and Mike Domsodi keyed the win for the Clippers with the latter two each potting their second of the night later on. Victoria affiliate player Dustin Johnson got both Grizz goals.
In Alberni Valley, the Bulldogs fought hard firing 38 shots at Wyatt Galley but lost 5-1 to the Langley Chiefs to fall behind 3-0 in the series. Brandon Thompson and Mike Tebbut made it 2-0 after one and Mason Blacklock and Josh Myers scored in the second after Casey Bailey had tallied for the 'Dogs. Brandon Scholten's late goal rounded out Chiefs scoring.
In Coquitlam, a four-goal second period for the Surrey Eagles propelled them to a 7-1 win over the Express and a 3-0 series lead. Richard Vanderhoek scored the game's first goal, Alex Petan tied it and Brad McGowan tallied late in the frame for a 2-1 lead after 20 minutes. But Surrey exploded for four in the second, getting goals from Tyler Morley, two from Robert Lindores and another from Jeff Vanderlugt. Scott Holm added a goal in the third.
