Achi news desk-
BC HOCKEY LEAGUE
WEST KELOWNA 4, CRANBROOK 3 (OT)
After being crushed 8-2 in Game 1 of their first round playoff series, The Cranbrook Bucks put together a much better effort in Game 2, but the West Kelowna Warriors still found a way to take a 2-0 series lead.
In the first and second periods, both teams exchanged goals in a back and forth affair to the bitter end. The Warriors took a 3-2 lead just 1:38 into the final frame, but with just under four minutes left in the period, the Bucks scored the equalizer, forcing the game into overtime.
All it took was one shot and 16 seconds of overtime, as Warriors forward Trent Wilson scored his second goal of the postseason, giving West Kelowna the win and a 2-0 lead in the series best of seven.
Cranbrook had a slight advantage in shots over West Kelowna, 31-29. The Warriors scored the lone power play goal of the game, as their power play was 1-for-4, while Cranbrook produced no offense on their three attempts.
The series now moves back to Cranbrook, where the two teams will meet for Games 3 and 4, starting on Tuesday night.
PENTICTON 3, PRINCE GEORGE 0
In Penticton, the Vees outscored Prince George with 45 shots in Game 2 of their first round game, and now have a 2-0 series lead over the Spruce Kings.
After a scoreless first period, the hometown Vees got their fans out of their seats early in the second as Connor MacPherson scored his first of the series to give Penticton a 1-0 lead. .
Then, with the Vees on power in the third period, Simon Meier ripped home his first of the series. Minutes later, MacPherson decided he wasn’t done scoring, adding his second of the night to put the Vees in cruise control en route to a 3-0 victory.
The Vees defeated the Spruce Kings 45-13. The two clubs will battle it out in Prince George for Games 3 and 4, starting on Tuesday.
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MERRITT 3 Salmon Arm 2
The Salmon Arm Silverbacks’ poor start at home in Game 2 against the Merritt Centennials proved costly.
10 seconds is all it took for the Centennials to draw first blood, sending shock waves through the crowd of 1294 at the Shaw Center. Seven minutes later, the Cents added to their lead after Charles Thomas-Larochelle scored his first goal of the post season.
Thomas-Larochelle was not made there. In the opening minutes of period two, he scored his second goal of the game to give his club a 3-0 lead.
The Silverbacks would score once in the second and once in the third, but the Cents hung on to take a 3-2 decision. Salmon Arm finished the game with a slight edge in shots, 36-35.
The series is now one game apiece, and Merritt will have home-ice advantage for Games 3 and 4 starting Tuesday.
VERNON 5, ROUTE 2
The Trail Smoke Eaters return home for Games 3 and 4 with plenty of work to do, having dropped the first two games of their opening round playoff series against the Vernon Vipers.
After being shut out in Game 1, the Smoke Eaters opened the scoring in Game 2, as Ethan Warrener buried his team’s first goal of the postseason.
The Vipers were kept off the score sheet until the 14:07 mark of the second period, as Issac Tremblay scored, and seemingly opened the floodgates of offense for Vernon.
In the third period, the Vipers scored four unanswered goals to take a 5-1 lead. Trail would however add one more goal, but ultimately fell 5-2 and found themselves down 2-0 in the best of seven series. They will need to continue to try and find some offense, having scored just two goals through two games.
Games 3 and 4 start in the Trail starting on Tuesday night.
Saturday’s results
- Blackfalds 4, Saint Grove 2 (regular season)
- Sherwood Park 6, Brooks 3 (regular season)
- Chilliwack 2, Langley 1 (OT) (Chilliwack leads series 2-0)
- Victoria 8, Nanaimo 2 (Victoria leads series 2-0)
- Coquitlam 4, Alberni Valley 2 (Series tied 1-1)
- Surrey 5, Cowichan Valley 0 (Surrey leads series 2-0)
Sunday games
- Okotoks at Spruce Grove (regular season)
WESTERN HOCKEY LEAGUE
WENATCHEE AT KELOWNA
The Kelowna Rockets are just one win away from closing their best-of-seven series against the Wenatchee Wild, as they try to advance to round 2 on home ice on Sunday afternoon.
The Rockets led the series 3-1, but the Wild now have some momentum as they hit the ice in Game 6, having taken a 5-4 overtime victory on Friday night.
Kelowna has outscored Wenatchee 21 to 16 through five games, with their offense led by Tij Iginla, who has 7 goals and 1 assist so far.
For Wenatchee, their leading point scorer this season is Briley Wood – tallying 6 goals and 5 assists through the first five games.
The Rockets will advance to the second round with a win, but if the Wild are victorious, Wenatchee will host a series-deciding Game 7 on Tuesday.
Kelowna has not advanced in the first round since the 2016-17 season, where they eliminated Kamloops in the opening round before beating Portland in round two and then falling in the Western Conference final to the Seattle Thunderbirds, who went on to win WHL Championship title. .
Sunday’s puck drop at Prospera Place is scheduled for 2:05 pm
Saturday games
Sunday games
- Vancouver at Everett (Everett leads series 3-1)
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