The Victoria Cougars survived A "disastrous" first period on Tuesday and bounced back with three goals in the second period to defeat the Kerry Park Islanders 3-1.
Victoria now lead Kerry Park 2-0 in the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League semifinal best-of-seven series.
Game 3 goes 7:15 p.m., Thursday (March 8) at the Archie Browning Sports Centre.
Game 2 of the Saanich Braves and Peninsula Panthers is 7:30 p.m. at Pearkes arena tonight.
Chris Bannister scored first on Tuesday and Sam Rice scored two more. Rice was one of the better defensive forwards in Game 1 and has been one of the Cougars' most consistent forwards in the short life of the series thus far.
Cole Schneider scored for the Islanders.
Late in the game Islanders head coach Brad Scafe pulled goalie Matt Chester for an extra attacker but the Islanders couldn't capitalize. Chester was strong for the Islanders, stopping 39 shots, while Bryce Halverson made 25 saves, including 11 in the opening frame.
As expected, Kerry Park played a more disciplined game on Tuesday with 10 minor penalties to Victoria's nine. Kerry Park took 17 minors to Victoria's 5 in Game 1 on Sunday.