It took two overtimes to find the deciding goal in game three of the best-of-seven PJHL playoff series between the Mission City Outlaws and Ridge Meadows Flames at Mission Leisure Centre on Saturday night (Feb. 25).
Cohen Muc scored just over 13 minutes into the second overtime for the Flames to complete the 5-4 comeback victory and take a 2-1 series lead. The Outlaws held a 4-0 advantage after 20 minutes of play, but a pair of power-play goals from Theo Kochan helped the Flames find their way back.
Jakob Loewen notched two assists in the win for Ridge Meadows, while Carson Garneau picked up a goal and an assist for Mission. Cam Connolly earned the victory between the pipes for the Flames, stopping 35 of 39 shots. Brian Dale faced 53 shots for the Outlaws and turned aside 48.
Mission’s Brendan Chabot opened the scoring in the fourth minute on the power play and Joshua Romeyn found the back of the net again just 30 seconds later to give the Outlaws a 2-0 lead. Garneau scored for Mission just two minutes later and Cole Moffat closed out the period with a late goal to extend the lead to 4-0 heading into the locker room.
A roughing penalty from Mission’s Layne Jensen put the Flames’ lethal power play to work midway through the second period. Kochan capitalized with his first of the game on the man advantage to put Ridge Meadows on the board. Owen Thibodeaux scored unassisted less than two minutes later to cut the Outlaws’ lead to 4-2 after 40 minutes.
Samuel Allen scored just under three minutes into the third period to make it a one-goal game. Garneau was credited with a boarding penalty for Mission and Ridge Meadows’ top-ranked power play went back to work. Kochan took advantage and scored his second of the night with assists from Jack Foster and Jakob Loewen.
Nothing was decided after the first overtime, and it took just over 13 minutes of play in the second for Muc to break the tie.
READ MORE: Outlaws begin PJHL playoff journey with best-of-seven against Ridge Meadows
Meanwhile, in game two at Cam Neely Planet Ice Arena in Maple Ridge on Friday night (Feb. 24), the Outlaws tied the series at 1-1 with a 3-1 victory. A 37-save performance from Dale and a two-point game from Moffat helped power the Outlaws to a road win.
Kyle Sackmann opened the scoring for Mission just over three minutes into the first period with an assist from Blake Clease. Outlaws’ defenceman Austin Charlton picked up an interference penalty midway through the frame and Kochan made him pay with a game-tying power-play goal. However, Rowan Zapisocki answered with a late goal assisted by Moffat to give the Outlaws a 2-1 lead heading into the break.
Moffat scored seven minutes into the second with assists credited to Zapisocki and Layne Jensen to extend Mission’s lead to 3-1.
Ridge Meadows applied the pressure and outshot the Outlaws 14-7 in the third period despite a trio of penalties. Dale stood tall for Mission to hold on for the victory to tie the series.
The Flames won game one 4-1 at home after taking a commanding 4-0 lead into the third period. Kochan kicked off the series with a goal and an assist in the win, while Connoly stopped 22 of 23 shots and Foster and Jordan Kujala each tallied two assists.
Game three of the first round series is slated for Tuesday night at Mission Leisure Centre at 7 p.m.
@dillon_white
dillon.white@missioncityrecord.com
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.