Kevin Sundher posted an assist Friday as Chiliwack opened the 2011 playoff year with a 3-2 overtime loss to Spokane. Midway through the second period with the game locked at a goal apiece, Sundher entered the zone with the puck on a 2-1 break with Jamie Crooks. When the Chiefs defender slid to take the pass away, the six-footer stopped on a dime and made a nice dish to Crooks to give the Bruins the 2-1 lead. The apple was Sundher's sixth point in seven career playoff games, while Bruins netminder Lucas Gore made 60 saves before giving up the game winner halfway through the OT. Game #2 takes place on Saturday.
Mark Pysyk regrouped from an early jilt to finish the night +3 as Edmonton lost an entertaining game #1 to Red Deer, 5-3. The Oil Kings suffered a scare on the game's opening shift when Pysyk left the ice gingerly after being rammed into the boards, only to return without issue. Michael St. Croix ('11) knotted the game 3-3 in the third period before Ryan Nugent-Hopkins ('11) took over with a pair of goals in a span of 1:06 to give the Rebels a 1-0 series lead. The clubs will take the ice for game #2 Saturday.
Matt MacKenzie was +1 as Tri-City came from behind to defeat Vancouver, 2-1. After tying the game with 7:55 to play in the third period, Carter Ashton iced the Ams win with just three ticks left in the first overtime after Andrej Stastny was whistled for a costly tripping call. The well-seasoned MacKenzie, who represented the WHL in last year's Memorial Cup as a member of the Calgary Hitmen, will dress for his 47th career playoff tilt when the teams play game #2 on Saturday.
Brayden McNabb logged a -2 as Kootenay was shut out Moose Jaw, 4-0. The Ice will look to play tougher from the first drop in Saturday's game #2, as giving up three first period goals on home ice was hardly the way they wanted to begin the postseason. It was a disappointing postseason start for McNabb, who on Thursday was named a WHL Eastern Conference First Team All-Star.
Jerome Gauthier-Leduc finished -1 as Rimouski was clobbered by Gatineau, 6-0. The 6'2 defender had just closed the regular season with a 10-game point streak but can always begin another when tow clubs play it back on Saturday. Igor Levitsky ('11) had a goal and an assist for the Piques.
In the QMJHL, Cedrick Henley (-1) did not point as Val-d'Or was dumped by Quebec, 7-2. Mirko Hoefflin (undrafted in '10) had a pair of assists for the Remparts, who will take a 1-0 series lead into Saturday's game #2.
