The Wenatchee Wild opened the second round of the BCHL Fred Page Cup Playoffs on Friday night, hosting the Cowichan Valley Capitals and played catch-up most of the night, in the end falling to the Capitals 3-2 as Cowichan Valley grabbed a 1-0 series lead in the best-of-seven.
It was just :29 seconds into the game when the Capitals scored their first goal, coming on their first shot. Cruz Cote fired a wrister from the blue line that picked the top glove side corner and the Wild trailed, 1-0. Wenatchee tied the game at 8:48 when Cristophe Tellier drove home the angled rebound of a Hunter Hastings shot and the game was tied 1-1 after one period of play.
Cowichan Valley retook the lead when Dan McIntyre knocked home a bouncing puck at the side of the net at 3:14 of the second period. The Wild tied it again on a crisp power play goal, set up by quick passes from PJ Fletcher to Lucas Sowder, then across to Brandon Koch who snapped the one-timer upstairs at 15:41. The 2-2 score carried over into the third period. In the final frame, David Melaragni gave the Caps the lead one final time at 7:15 as his shot from the left circle beat Park off the low far side post. Wenatchee pulled Park for the extra attacker but were unable to even the score and Cowichan Valley held on the 3-2 win. The Wild outshot the Capitals 36-17.
Game 2 of the series will be played Saturday night at 7:05 pm in Town Toyota Center before moving to Duncan, BC for Games 3 and 4 at Island Savings Centre. If needed, Game 5 returns to Wenatchee on Friday March 22.
