The Cowichan Valley Capitals kicked off the weekend by beating one of the B.C. Hockey League’s top teams at home on Saturday, then lost to a division rival on Sunday afternoon.
The Caps ended a three-game losing streak on Saturday with a 5-2 victory over the Prince George Spruce Kings, who came into the weekend with the BCHL’s best record.
Lucas Vanroboys and Paul Selleck got Cowichan up 2-0 in the first period, but Prince George got one back before intermission. Niko Esposito-Selivanov and Selleck then scored just 21 seconds apart midway through the second to put the Caps up 4-1. The Spruce Kings made it interesting with one just 45 seconds into the third, but the Caps held on. Olivier Gauthier, who assisted on both of Selleck’s goals, capped off the scoring with an empty-netter.
Jack Grant earned the win with 33 saves in the Cowichan net, while the Caps outshot the Spruce Kings 39-33. Starter Logan Neaton allowed four goals on 24 shots over 32:41 of work. Backup Keenan Rancier stopped all 14 shots he faced in 25:28 of action.
The Caps went 1-for-5 on the powerplay while killing off all five P.G. opportunities.
Visiting Powell River the next day, the Caps lost 6-2 to the Kings, who are chasing the Victoria Grizzlies for first place in the Island Division.
After a scoreless opening period, the Caps went up 2-0 in the first half of the second on goals by Cole Broadhurst and David Melaragni. The Kings tied the score by the end of the middle frame, then surged ahead with four unanswered markers in the third.
Grant allowed six goals on 25 shots, while Powell River’s Mitch Adamyk made 29 stops for his fifth win over the Caps this season.
The Caps remain at the bottom of the Island Division standings with 27 points (11 wins, 25 losses, four overtime losses and one shootout loss), four back of the fourth-place Alberni Valley Bulldogs, who have a game in hand. The Caps are eight points up on Surrey Eagles for last in the league, although Surrey has two games in hand.
The Caps are on a three-game road trip this coming weekend, with stops in Prince George, Langley and Surrey.