It was a wild first couple of minutes, and wild first period for that matter, at North Battleford Civic Centre Friday night between the Meota Combines and Radisson Wheatkings to begin their best of 5 SPHL playoff series.
The Combines did not waste any time at all getting on the scoreboard as Bo Gervais fired home the first goal with Daxen Collins and Levin Floen assisting at 1:04.
At the 1:30 mark it was Gervais again, from Michael Pylypow and Floen (his second assist) to make it 2-0. But 16 seconds later Radisson got one back as Nick Kalnicki scored from Connor Wainwright, making it 2-1.
At 6:17 Meota restored the two goal lead as Taylor Tatchell scored with Brett Miller and Riley Albert assisting.
With 1:53 left in the period Collins found the open side of the net with Pylypow and Gervais assisting to make it 4-1. But shortly after, with 1:13 left, Radisson got back on the board with a goal by 11 Brian Clark from Dana Derbowka to cut it to 4-2. That would be all the scoring for the first period. Shots were 17-7 in the period for Meota.
The second period was far quieter on the score sheet for both teams, with no scoring. Shots through two were 26-19 Meota.
The third period was all Combines. At the 8:14 mark, Collins found the net for his second of the game to make it 5-2 Combines. Pylypow got the assist, his third of the night.
With 3:44 left Aaron Cadrin scored from Miller and Albert to make it 6-2. Then with 2:46 Pylypow got his first of the night unassisted to make it 7-2 Meota.
Radisson got one more late goal from Luke Favero to made it a 7-3 final score. Final shots favored the Combines 39-31.
Game two of the series is set for Radisson Feb. 14.
