A big first period helped the Aldergrove Kodiaks cruise to a series-clinching victory.
The Kodiaks scored four times in the first period — all on the power play — en route to a 7-3 win over the Abbotsford Pilots in game five of the Pacific Junior Hockey League’s semifinal series.
The game was played March 12 at the Aldergrove Arena.
After the Kodiaks raced out to the 4-0 lead — Spencer McHaffie had a pair while Joshua Cronin and Stephen Ryan had the others — the Pilots scored a short-handed goal from Jarrett Martin to get on the board before the intermission.
And Brady Lawlor cut the lead to 4-2 with six minutes to go in the second period. But 30 seconds later, Elvis Jansons made it 5-2 and that set off three goals in less than three minutes for Aldergrove.
Jonathan Philley and Jansons had the goals.
Kolton Grieve scored for the Pilots for the lone third period tally.
Jordan Liem stopped 22 of the 25 shots he faced.
He leads all goalies this post-season with a 1.94 goals against average and a .927 save percentage.
Aldergrove had won the first two games at home 7-2 and 2-0, but the Pilots finally broke through with a 3-2 overtime victory in game three on March 7 at MSA Arena. The Kodiaks took a 3-1 series lead with a 3-2 game four victory before closing things out in game five.
Aldergrove is 8-1 in the post-season and will play the Richmond Sockeyes — who are 8-0 in the playoffs — in the PJHL finals with a berth to the Cyclone Taylor Cup on the line.
