FIRST PERIOD

These two teams have battled each other 3 games now.  It has been exciting for the fans with alot of goals, heavy hits and penalty filled games.

The Riels opened the scoring at 5:59 when Brian Dies scored his 19^th of the season with helpers coming from Trudeau and Charette.  The Canucks replied back at 12:13 when Sam Klack scored with assists coming from Rafter and Kuzak.  The period ended 1-1.  Riels out shot the Canucks

15-9.

SECOND PERIOD

The Canucks Morgan Winchar scored his 11^th of the season from Cam Fehr at 3:32.

Then the Canucks on the power play at 7:19, Cam Fehr scored his 20^th of the season from Rafter and Miller.  That made it 3-1 Canucks.

The Riels had a power play of their own at 8:30 when they made it look pretty simple when Izvekov finished off a beautiful 3 way passing play with assists coming from Charette and Ziprick.  The Canucks wasted no time with regaining their two goal lead back when Austin Hill beat Riels net minder Ryan Brown at 9:11 to make it 4-2 with assists coming from Ouellette and Kuzak.  The Riels had a chance to come back in the second half of that period when they had a power play time but could not beat Canucks net minder Erik Swar.  The Canucks outshot the Riels 15-10 in the second and had a 4-2 lead.

THIRD PERIOD

The Riels power play in the second period did not click.  Riels were not shooting the puck, just too much perimeter passing.  Credit to the Canucks on the penalty kill.

The Riels came out hard as usual in the third, buzzing around the Canucks goalie.

Finally at 3:20, league leading defensemen Sean Christensen finished off a beautiful pass from Russell Trudeau and beat Swar, top cheddar to make the Riels come back 4-3 for the Canucks.  An assist also went to Brian Dies.  The Riels tied the game at 15:06 when Michael Gorrie scored his 20^th of the season from Brian Michiels.  Now 4-4 end of regulation.  Canucks out shot Riels 11-10.

OVERTIME

Another exciting finish for the Riels in O.T. when Brian Michiels came down low in Canuck territory, spun around a Canuck defenseman and found Riels forward Stanislav Izvekov coming in the zone late when Izvekov shot over the shoulder of Canucks net minder Erik Swar to finish off the come back fro the 1^st place team Riels.  Just a great all around team effort in the 3^rd period.

THREE STARS

First star Stanislav Izvekov, second star Brian Michiels and third star Russell Trudeau.

COCHES CORNER

Key factors   -  Power play tonight-not enough shooting

                         - Defensive zone work needs to improve