Leafs win for third time in four games, dump Spokane 4-1.
By The Nelson Daily Sports
By Bruce Fuhr,
The Nelson Daily Sports
Nelson exploded for three second-period goals en route to a 4-1 victory over the Spokane Braves in Kootenay International Junior Hockey League action Wednesday night at the NDCC Arena.
The victory, the third in fourth attempts, pulls the Leafs (3-5) into a third-place tie with the Braves in Neil Murdoch standings.
“We’re definitely happy with three (wins) out of four (games),” said Nelson sniper Connor McLaughlin. “The loss was against Fernie and they’re a pretty strong team . . . not that we don’t want to be there too (like the Fernie’s of the league) but it’s definitely awesome that we’ve won three of four.”
However, the result may have been like the first few games of the season — one for the loss column.
Jesse Collins beat Nelson starting goalie Darren Hogg 26 seconds into the contest to deflate the crowd, the Leafs and the coaching staff.
“After that first period we were scrambling,” McLaughlin admitted. “But we definitely came back and forced them out of the rink, holding them to five shots in the second and third.”
According to the shot-clock operator, the count was six for final 40 minutes while Nelson pumped 21 at Garrett Barr in the Spokane net. The determination paid off in three goals by Adrian Moyls, Connor Enright and Gavin Currie.
In the third Cameron Dobransky banked a shot off a skate in front of Barr to complete the scoring. Enright finished the game with three points while Marcus Dahl added a pair of assists.
Nelson finished the game out shooting the Braves 28-15.
Nelson, which has played the most games in the league at nine, is off for nine days before returning to action Friday, October 8 in Beaver Valley. Golden Rockets visit the Leafs Saturday, October 9 at the NDCC Arena.
GAME NOTES: The announced crowd was 250. . . .Adrian Moyls had an assist to take over the goal scoring lead for the Leafs with seven points. Colton Schell, Connor McLaughlin, Gavin Currie, Marcus Dahl and Cameron Dobransky are all tied for second with six points . . . Schell, who had a four-game point streak entering the game, was kept off the score sheet. . . . Nelson goalie Darren Hogg played his first game in 11 days.
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