Ryan Brushett returned with a vengeance on Saturday night, but his visiting Powell River Kings and the Victoria Grizzlies refused to flinch in regulation as the two teams took a 5-5 tie late into the first overtime session of Game 2 at The Q Centre.
Then, Ben Berard scored with 3:51 left in the first OT period to give Kings a 6-5 win and even the series at 1-1.
Brushett, back from a three-game suspension, had a goal and two assists as the 20-year-old, who finished runner-up to Victoria Grizzlies captain Alex Newhook in the sa国际传媒 Hockey League regular season scoring race, set up Levi Glasman for the tying goal with nine minutes left in the third.
The Kings, who were outshot 51-20 in Friday night鈥檚 season opener, won 4-1 by the Grizzlies, came out much more determined and thanks to Brushett, who鈥檚 headed to the University of Nebraska-Omaha in the fall, jumped out to an early lead. The sniper, who led the league in goals with 41, set up the opening goal by Josh Colbenz and then struck himself with six minutes left in the opening frame to give the Kings a 2-0 lead.
Just when the Kings thought they were off to the races, Newhook came to life, firing a shot from the slot past Mitch Adamyk to bring the home crowd to life. And two minutes later, Grizzlies blue-liner Jeremie Bucheler fired a seeing-eye slapshot from the point that evened things up after 20 minutes.
Alex Campbell for the Grizzlies and Ben Thomas for the Kings exchanged goals in the second period.
Grizzlies winger Ryan Nolan got things started in the third, crashing the net and banging home a rebound to give the Grizzlies a brief lead. Glasman struck just 40 seconds later and the teams alternated goals the rest of regulation, Campbell again for the Grizzlies, and Glasman returning the favour again to send the game to the extra frame.
Kurtis Chapman made 26 saves in regulation, while Adamyk turned aside 32 Grizzlies鈥� shots.
The series switches to Powell River for Games 3 and 4 on Monday and Tuesday.
LOOSE PUCKS: If needed, Game 5 will be back at The Q Centre on Friday night, with a sixth game slated for next Saturday in Powell River.
