After a promising start in the second round of playoffs gave the Aldergrove Kodiaks a 2-0 lead over the Abbotsford Pilots, the tables have turned, with the Pilots winning three in a row for a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series.
The Kodiaks were up 2-0 in the fifth game Sunday night in Aldergrove Arena, however, when their scoring leader Thomas Hardy was taken out with a separated shoulder it took all the steam out of an already short bench. With injuries and misconducts combined, the Kodiaks were short seven forwards that night, and it ended with a 5-2 win for the Pilots.
The series could be decided tonight (March 19) at MSA Arena, and the seventh game, if needed will be at Aldergrove Arena the following night, March 20.
The Kodiaks goals were scored by Colton Precourt and Mitchell Guiel around the halfway mark of the first period, but the Pilots answered with two of their own. The Pilots scored two more in the second and another in the third.
Neither team scored on four power plays each, and the Pilots outshot the Kodiaks 47-28.
The previous two nights at MSA Arena were also wins for the Pilots, 5-4 on Saturday and 5-1 on Friday.
Scoring for the Kodiaks on Saturday were Jordan Pughe with a pair, and Stephen Ryan and Matthew Luongo with one each. Shots were 44-36 in favour of the Pilots.
Aldergrove's sole scorer on Friday was Pughe, on a power play in the third. Shots were 40-26 for the Pilots.
Scores in the first two games at Aldergrove Arena were 2-1 for the Kodiaks March 12 and 6-4 for the Kodiaks March 14.