Strong second period leads to 9-2 win (Sockeyes Lead Series 2-1)

                                      @             

A huge second period in which they scored six goals has given the Sockeyes a 2-1 series lead with a 9-2 win in North Van. Jordan Liem was pulled midway through the second period after allowing 5 goals on 19 shots. The Sockeyes offence exploded in this game as all four line chipped in on the scoreboard and the powerplay scored three goals as well.


The game once again got started off on the right foot for Richmond as they scored just over 2 minutes into the game on the power play. Carter Popoff sent the puck towards the net and Kevan Kilistoff directed the puck towards the net with a nice tip to open the scoring. That was his first goal of the playoff for the youngster.


The game was pretty slow paced in the first period with both teams defenses performing very well. Then came the second period. North Vancouver opened the scoring in the second period as they got a goal from Robert Johnson as he cut across the middle of the slot and fired it over the blocker of Sockeyes goalie Kootenay Alder. 


After that goal the Sockeyes seemed to have gotten a big spark as they went on an absolute goal scoring flurry. Carter Popoff gave the Sockeyes a 2-1 lead as a strange bounce left the puck just sitting in front and he put it in. Then the strangest goal came from Justin Lachance as a dump into the Wolf Pack zone led to another goal. Troy Kaczynski threw the puck into the Wolf Pack zone and the puck bounced off the back of the boards, directly in front and Lachance batted it out of the air and into the net. 


Richmond would score another two goals and then Johann Peterson would replace Jordan Liem in net for the Wolf Pack. Liem stopped only 14 of 19 shots. Things wouldn't get any easier for Peterson though as the first goal went in on him. After the period was done Richmond scored 6 goals and had a 7-1 lead.


The final frame was just a matter of winding down the clock, all credit to Quin Buckellew scoring a beautiful backhand goal that went over Alder's blocker and under the bar and into the net for a 7-2 game. The last two goals were scored in garbage time as Justin Rai and Troy Kaczynski added insult to injury making the score 9-2 at games end. Kootenay Alder stopped 25 of 27 shots on goal.


Richmond now takes a 2-1 series lead back to Minoru Arena. Games four and five will be in Richmond as the Sockeyes will look to take a stranglehold on the series with a game tonight at 4:45. If you can't make it to the game be sure to tune in to SockeyesTV at www.richmondsockeyes.com