Barr slams the door as Leafs fall to Spokane Braves 2-0
By The Nelson Daily Sports
By The Nelson Daily Sports
Right now the Nelson Leafs (See full story in The Nelson Daily Sports Section) can’t score.
Which in hockey is a real bad thing. Just ask the Vancouver Canucks.
Garrett Barr stopped all 15 shots as the Spokane Braves skated away with a 2-0 Kootenay International Junior Hockey League victory Saturday night at the NDCC Arena.
The loss was the second in as many nights against Murdoch Division rivals for the Leafs.
Friday, Erik Wentzel scored three times as the Castlegar Rebels posted its third straight victory over West Kootenay rival Nelson, this time a 5-1 decision iin the Sunflower City.
Saturday, a goal by Jesse Collins before most fans had taken their seats in the first period was all that Barr would need. Uriah Machuga added an insurance marker late in the second period for Spokane, which out shot the Leafs by a wide 28-8 margin through two periods.
Nelson staged an, albiet, brief rally in the third out shooting the Braves 7-4. But many of the shots came in the final two minutes when Leaf coach Chris Shaw pulled netminder Marcus Beesley for the extra attacker.
Final shot total was 32-15 in favour of the visitors, winners of six straight games.
Friday, the Rebels added to the season win column against the Leafs with Wentzel doing most of the damage.
In three games this season Castlegar has outscored the Leafs 13-2 with Wentzel proving to be a Leaf killer, registering six of the markers.
Castlegar scored twice in the first period before adding a pair in the third. The Rebels held period leads of 2-0 and 3-1.
Dylan Richardson, finishing the contest with three points, and Anthony Delong also scored for Castlegar. Patrick Martens spoiled the shutout bid of Rebels’ netminder Andrew Walton.
Darren Hogg, outstanding Sunday in a 2-0 shutout over Princeton, took the loss in goal for the Leafs.
Nelson out shot the Rebels 27-25 in a penalty filled contest that boiled over in the third period when Leaf defenceman Walker Sidoni was whistled for a checking-from-behind penalty.
Referee Mike Page handed out more than 90 minutes in penalties at the 12:29 mark of the third period.
Nelson, dropping to 5-8 on the season and 2-7 against Murdoch Division teams, has a week to regroup. The Leafs play host to the Grand Forks Border Bruins Saturday at 7 p.m. in the NDCC Arena. The team completes the two-game weekend with a date Sunday in Spokane.
sports@thenelsondaily.com
