The Aldergrove Kodiaks are a win away from taking out the Mission City Outlaws in the opening round of the Pacific Junior Hockey League playoffs.
A 6-3 win over the Outlaws Monday at Aldergrove Arena gave the Kodiaks a commanding 3-0 lead in games in the best-of-seven series.
The Kodiaks had a chance to finish the series tonight (Feb. 26) when the teams met at Aldergrove Arena.
The Aldergrove juniors having control of the series shouldn’t come as a surprise, considering the teams’ records during the regular season.
Aldergrove ran away with the Harold Brittain Conference title with a 34-6-2-2 record.
Only the Tom Shaw Conference-leading Richmond Sockeyes (34-5-3-2) had more points than the Kodiaks among PJHL teams.
The Outlaws were a distance fourth in the Harold Brittain, at 11-28-2-3.
On Friday, the Kodiaks had a slim 4-3 lead in the third period before scoring the final two goals of the night.
Brandon Dolby gave the Kodiaks a two-goal cushion when he scored 13:21 into the final frame.
Aldergrove’s Quinncy Leroux – shorthanded and into the empty net with Outlaws goalie Jeffrey Veitch on the bench in favour of an extra attacker – made it 6-3 for the home team with 1:32 remaining in regulation time.
The goal was Leroux’s second of the night.
Scott McHaffie also had a two goal night for the Kodiaks, who led 1-0 in the first period and 4-2 after 40 minutes. Spencer McHaffie had the other Kodiaks goal.
The visitors came within one at the 9:27 mark of the third period when Kyle Raymond scored a powerplay goal for the Outlaws.
Aldergrove outshot Mission City 45-25, including 15-6 in the third period.