The Quality Foods Oceanside Generals overcome an early first-period goal to beat the Kerry Park Islanders 4-1 in the first game of of their best-of-seven Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League playoffs on Tuesday night at Oceanside Place.
Club president Gerry Bickerton, who was watching the game from the stands, called it “nerves” when the Generals had a defensive lapse that saw Islanders Parker Bergstrom put one past goalie James Brendeland at 6:12.
The Generals battled back and never let up again.
READ MORE: Captain Dziadyk to en season with Oceanside Generals on high note
Captain Landon Dziadyk paced the Generals when he tied things up with a power play goal at at the 12:06 mark of the first. Then in the second period, Dziadyk notched another power-play goal to make it 2-1. The Generals never relinquished control as Foster Martin made it 3-1 also on the man-advantage.
In the third, Will Norman put the game out of reach with a goal at 11:15.
The Generals outshot the Islanders 59-17, with Brendeland earning the win at the pipes with 16 saves. They were also 3-for-8 on the power play.
The second game of the series goes Wednesday night.
The Generals will host the Islanders again on Friday at Oceanside Arena at 7 p.m.