Cats use power play to claw past Leafs 5-2 Friday in the East Kootenay City
By The Nelson Daily Sports
The Nelson Leafs got off to a rocky start on a six-game Kootenay International Junior Hockey League road trip through the East Kootenay and Okanagan.
The Creston Thunder Cats scored three first period goals en route to a 5-2 victory Friday at the Johnny Bucyk Arena. The win avenged a 6-5 loss to Nelson earlier this season.
Scott Butters, Scott Swiston and Trevor Forward, the latter two goals coming in a span of 25 seconds on the power play, scored for Creston. The two extra-man goals came after Leaf forward Max Mois was whistled for a five-minute penalty for checking-from-behind.
Colton Schell gave Nelson some brief life in the second, scoring eight minutes into the frame.
However, the Thunder Cats restored its three-goal advantage on another power play marker by Brandon Formosa.
Swiston increased the Creston lead before the period ended to 5-1.
Dallon Stoddart scored the other goal for Nelson in the third.
Creston out shot the Leafs 32-30 with Creston’s Tyler Moffat out dueling Andrew Walton in goal to register the win.
Nelson, 12-5-0-1, returns to action Saturday in Beaver Valley against the Hawks. Beaver Valley trails Nelson by a single point in
Murdoch Division standings with the Hawks playing three less games.
LEAF NOTES: Nelson drops to 5-2 on the road this season. . . . Nelson forward Patrick Martens had an assist to add to his point scoring streak — the streak is now 13 games. However, Martens now trails Ryan Edwards of Beaver Valley by a single point in KIJHL scoring. Friday’s game in Creston was the first time Martens has not had more than one point in six games. . . . Nelson Minor Hockey grad Carsen Willans was names the third star Friday. . . . Injuries continue to hamper the Leafs as Nelson played the game with only 14 skaters. . . . Missing from the lineup were defenceman Riley Henderson, Walker Sidoni and Blake Arcuri along with forwards Linden Horswill, Matti Jmaeff and Brett Norman. Norman was a healthy scratch.
sports@thenelsondaily.com
