The Aldergrove Kodiaks slipped to a 3-2 lead in the playoffs series against the Abbotsford Pilots Wednesday (Feb. 25) after faltering in the third period and dropping a two point lead.
The Pilots rallied in the third to even the score at 3-3 and take the game into overtime. Fifteen seconds into the second overtime the Pilots netted the game winner to keep their playoff hopes alive.
The Kodiaks had been up 2-0 at the start of the second period. Brandon Dolby had opened the scoring just 25 seconds into the game, assisted by Quinncy Leroux and captain Aaron Markin. Eric Callegari followed that up 13 minutes later with a breakaway goal.
The Pilots’ Brady Lawlor notched their first goal midway through the second period, but Kodiak Cameron Davitt scored on a breakaway while the Kodiaks were on a penalty kill in the dying minutes of the period, to keep a 3-1 lead over the Pilots.
However, Pilots Alexander Methorst and Lawlor scored twice in the third to take the game into overtime. Pilot Mitchell Plevy scored the winner 15 seconds into the second overtime.
The Pilots outshot the Koidaks 46-35 that night and Lawlor was named first star of the game. Kodiak keeper Ben Giesbrecht was second star for his work in keeping 42 of the Pilots’ shots out of his net, and Davitt was named third star.
Game 6 is Friday, 7 p.m. at MSA Arena, and game 7, if needed, will be at Aldergrove Arena, date to be announced.
In the other half of the Harold Brittain conference, the Mission Outlaws defeated the Langley Knights Tuesday night in game 6 and their four consecutive wins puts them up against the winner of the Aldergrove-Abbotsford series.
In the Tom Shaw conference the North Vancouver Wolf Pack swept their series over the Delta Ice Hawks and await to see who the winner is of the Richmond Sockeyes-Grandview Steelers series, which is currently tied at two games apiece.
Aldergrove Kodiaks #12 — and PJHL Rookie of the Year — Cameron Davitt scored a beauty of a short-handed goal on Abbotsford Pilots keeper Jacob Crawford in game 5 of the playoffs Wednesday, Feb 25 at Aldergrove Arena. The Pilots won the game 4-3 in double overtime to put the best-of-seven series at 3-2 for the Kodiaks.
