Chiefs pick up two road wins, lead playoff series 3-1
NANAIMO — The Chilliwack Chiefs are riding a wave of momentum this weekend fresh off two road wins in the second round of the BCHL playoffs.
The Chiefs outshot Alberni Valley 39-34 and opened the scoring before the game was a minute old, during four-aside hockey on the rush as Caleb Elfering chipped in a Brady Milburn pass up and over Colin Winn from in tight. The Chiefs had a handful of premium opportunities through the first, but Colin Winn stood tall to keep it a one-goal game into period two.
The Bulldogs had an outstanding chance early in the second to tie the game, but Quintin Miller made a diving save on a cross-ice rebound to rob Ben Buckley to keep it 1-0. Shortly afterwards, it was 2-0 as Carter Anderson converted a cross-ice pass by Olivier Beaulieu. The Chiefs scored again to make it 3-0 on an Arjun Bawa net drive lifted high over Winn three minutes later. The Bulldogs kept the foot on the gas and boasted a number of scoring opportunities during the remainder of the period, but couldn’t get a bounce to beat Miller as it stayed 3-0 after 40 minutes.
Chilliwack added to their lead just 53 seconds into the third, as Caleb Elfering banked it off a Bulldog and in to make it 4-0. Less than a minute later, the Bulldogs finally cracked Quintin Miller, as Brendan Ruskowski scored from in tight on a Zeke Nicholson and Caden Tremblay set up to make it 4-1. The Chiefs answered at the five minute mark, on a turnover leading to an in-alone chance by Connor Arsenault going high blocker side on Winn. Another turnover at the Chief line led to a 2 on 1 rush less than a minute later would complete the scoring as Nico Grabas one-timed home a Nathan Morin pass to make it a 6-1 final. The Bulldogs went 0-for-2 on the power play while the Chiefs were scoreless in their lone opportunity on the power play.
