Heading into his team's Pacific Junior Hockey League semifinal against the Aldergrove Kodiaks, Abbotsford Pilots head coach Jim Cowden between two evenly matched teams.
Tuesday's opener at MSA Arena lived up to that billing for two periods, as the Pilots built a slim 2-1 lead.
But the third period was a different story, as the hosts exploded for six goals 鈥� including five in the last seven minutes of regulation 鈥� to claim an 8-1 victory and a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.
Eight different players scored for the Pilots: Brett Kolins, Kyle Star, Colton Cowden, Michael Tebbutt, Brandon Daase, Adam Rossi, Dakota Schipper and Christopher Vinette.
Abby captain Kolins added three assists for a four-point night, while Aaron Oakley made 25 saves in the win. Ryan Veillet scored the Kodiaks' lone goal.
The Pilots, in the first round, won the special teams battle, going 4-for-9 on the power play while Aldergrove went just 1-for-5.
Game 2 of the series goes Wednesday at 7:15 p.m. at Aldergrove Community Arena, while Game 3 is back at MSA Arena on Friday (7:30 p.m.).
