Nitros rain on Leafs parade, edge Green and White 2-1
By The Nelson Daily Sports
Two games into the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League season and the Nelson Leafs continue to search for an offence that can compete with the elite teams.
The Leafs scored only one goal for the second time this season in dropping a 2-1 decision to the visiting Kimberley Dynamiters Saturday night at the NDCC Arena.
Nelson opened the season Friday handing the Beaver Valley Nitehawks a 1-0 loss.
Saturday, Nelson started much better than Friday, opening the contest sending flurry of shots at Nitros goalie Broc Merkl.
However, it was Kimberley opening the scoring Cam Russell beat Quinn Yeager with the game’s first goal midway through the first period.
The score remained the same until Brock Palmer scored an unassisted marker in the third to give the visitors a 2-0 lead.
Leaf defenceman Michael LeNoury cut the margin in half with a goal three minutes later.
But that would be all the offence the Leafs would muster as Nelson suffered its first loss of the season.
Nelson outshot the Nitros 34-23 in the contest, including a 12-3 margin in the third.
Kimberley defeated Columbia Valley 6-1 Friday to open the season 2-0.
Nelson continues its home stand Friday when the Leafs host Fernie Ghostriders at 7 p.m. in the NDCC Arena.
Saturday, the Columbia Valley Rockies pay a visit to the Heritage City before Nelson sets out on a four-game road trip with stops in Spokane, Creston and Grand Forks.
In other Murdoch action, Castlegar bounced back from a season-opening loss to rock Columbia Valley 8-2 while Beaver Valley is now 1-1 after the Dylan Heppler scored twice and added four assists to lead the Hawks past Fernie 6-0.
Grand Forks leads the Murdoch Division after scoring its second OT victory of the season, 5-4 over Spokane Braves.
