Cowichan Valley Capitals - Powered By esportsdesk.com

Duncan, BC - A quick start and a three goal second period saw the Capitals earn a 6-1 win over the Bulldogs in Port Alberni for a third straight road win and fourth in the last five.

Pat Geary had a fantastic effort on offence with a goal and an assist for first star honours, Storm Phaneuf was spectacular in net with 33 saves, and Josh Owings scored his first BCHL goal as the Capitals improve to 18-12-2-3, three points ahead of Powell River for second place in the Island division.

The Capitals got the offence rolling early as Kade Kehoe scored his 12th of the season, short handed at the 4:45 mark of the first. An Alberni shot was blocked before Ayden MacDonald broke in on the short handed breakaway, his shot being stopped by Brody Claeys with Kehoe jumping on the rebound. Then a minute and a half later, Ryan Hogg won an offensive zone face off right back to the point where Josh Owings put a low shot past Claeys for his first BCHL goal, one that turned out to be the game winner.

The Bulldogs got on the board with 61 seconds left in the period when Chris Schutz pounced on a puck in the slot after a Marshall Skapski shot hit the post.

The Capitals were able to restore the two goal lead just 25 seconds into the second when Pat Geary scored the Caps' second short handed goal of the game and tenth of the season streaking into the offensive zone on the right wing and using a slap shot for his team leading 15th of the season. At the 6:27 mark, Mitch Meek fed the puck from the corner out in front to Kyle Topping who deflected in his fourth of the season and second in as many nights to make it a 4-1 Capitals lead. That goal chased Claeys from the net as Carson Schamerhorn entered the game in relief.

With just under two minutes remaining in the period, Connor Russell laid into a shot from the slot on the power play for his third goal in as many games to make it a 5-1 Capitals lead heading to the third, with MacDonald and Geary picking up the helpers.

MIdway through the third, Jared Domin jammed a loose puck from the top of the crease past a sprawling Schamerhorn for his ninth of the season making it a 6-1 Caps lead. Three minutes later it was Domin who dropped the mitts with Garrett Halls after a hit along the end boards with Domin throwing a series of fast, hard rights and lefts easily winning the bout in his first Junior fight.

With a pair of assists and earning second star, MacDonald has set a new personal best for helpers in a season with nine and now has 19 points on the year. Kehoe also picked up a pair of points now up to 36 on the season.

Making 33 saves for his 15th win of the season, Phaneuf has now bumped up his season save percentage to .921. The Caps were outshot 34-26 but special teams were solid with the power play finishing 1/3 while the penalty kill went 7/8.

The Capitals can make it a three game win streak heading into the Christmas break hosting the Prince George Spruce Kings Saturday night at the Island Savings Centre with puck drop set for 7:00pm.