The Virden Oil Capitals opened their Manitoba Junior Hockey League playoffs by winning two of their first four games.
In their best-of-seven quarterfinals series, the Oil Capitals and the Selkirk Steelers played Game 4 on Thursday when the Steelers won 4-3. Virden won game one 3-2 in triple overtime on the road on Friday. A big third period helped the Oil Caps claim the series’ second contest, 5-1, at home on Sunday. Selkirk won 4-2 at home on Tuesday.
On Saturday, the teams are back in Selkirk. Game six is Sunday in Virden with game seven on March 19 in Selkirk.
Nineteen-year-old forward Kolten Kanaski has been big for the Oil Capitals. He scored the winning goal in game one and netted a hat trick in game two. He was a runner-up for the Recycle Everywhere MJHL Player of the Week.
“He’s always been a big game scorer. … He has a knack for getting himself in those spots and getting himself those opportunities,” said Virden head coach Troy Leslie, who noted that Kanaski has a very good shot and release.
QUARTERFINALS
Game One
Oil Caps 3, Steelers 2
Leslie said game one was unlike almost any other game. It had a little of everything. In addition to three overtime periods, the game had a penalty shot and some great penalty killing as there were two five-minute majors.
“We were just really glad to get the win out of it,” Leslie said.
Kanaski scored the game winner on the power play following one of those five-minute majors.
“Wojo (Jayden Wojciechowski) passed it over to Ben (Dalke),” Kanaski said when asked about the goal. “Ben shot it towards the net, but it got redirected off of one of the Steelers players and popped out right to me, so I just tried to get it on net quick and it just squeaked in.”
There was no scoring in the game until the third period. Selkirk struck first followed by goals by Virden players Keagan Morrison and Hunter Cloutier. The Steelers were able to tie things up with their second power-play goal of the game.
Virden goalie Dalton Dosch stopped a penalty shot in the third overtime and finished with an amazing 65 saves on 67 shots.
Game Two
Oil Caps 5, Steelers 1
The contest was tied 1-1 headed into the third period when the Oil Caps exploded for four goals. Kanaski scored three straight goals, including two on the power play, while Jack Einarson also lit the lamp in the final frame. Dylan Halliday had a second-period goal to tie the game up after the Steelers scored in the first.
“They had some opportunities early and our goaltending was really good,” Leslie said. “We had a good third period and were able to get the win.”
Dosch finished with 34 saves Sunday to wrap up a busy weekend.
“In these last couple playoff games, I have really tried to simplify every movement and just relax,” he said. “I think that’s allowed me to be in the right spot at the right time in order to make saves. Nonetheless, the guys have also blocked lots of shots and have been really good on taking away lanes, which helps tremendously.”
Game Three
Steelers 4, Oil Caps 2
Selkirk led 2-0 after the first period. The Oil Caps were unable to tie things up. Cloutier scored in the second period and Jesse Mistelbacher found the back of the net in the third for Virden. Dosch made 38 saves on 42 shots.
