Warriors one win away from moving on

Reid Simmonds scored the game winner while Tyler Briggs turned aside 38 shots as the West Kelowna Warriors beat the Merritt Centennials 3-2 Tuesday to move to within a game of advancing to round two of the BCHL playoffs.

The win gives the Warriors a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven Interior Division semi-final series.

As was the case Monday in game three, the Warriors were forced to come from behind, however, unlike Monday, they were able to forge ahead and stay there.

Trailing 2-1 with just 48 seconds remaining in the middle frame Shawn Hochhausen found the puck during a wild scramble around the Merritt and beat Tyler Steel to even the score at 2-2.

Then, four minutes in to the third, Simmonds scored his first of the series taking a pass from Brennan Clark on a two-on-one and beating Steel.

The goal stood up as the game winner.

Matt Anholt opened the scoring for the Warriors with his second of the series early in the first period with the Warriors shorthanded.

Tyler Martin evened the count 21 seconds later on the same man advantage.

Brendan Lamont scored the other Merritt goal early in the second period but that was all Briggs would allow.

The warriors 20-year-old netminder shut the door the rest of the way as the Centennials outshot the Warriors 40-23 on the night.

The Warriors can clinch the series with a win on home ice Thursday night.

The winner of this series will face the Penticton Vees in the Interior Division final.

The Vees completed a four game sweep of the Salmon Arm Silverbacks Tuesday with a 5-1 win in Salmon Arm.