Goals by Arcuri, Naka power Leafs past Braves 4-1
By The Nelson Daily Sports
Two goals in just under a minute sparked the Nelson Leafs to a 4-1 victory over the Spokane Braves in Kootenay International Junior Hockey League action Sunday afternoon in the Lilac City.
The win concluded a weekend that didn’t start out so well for the Green and White, losers 6-4 to North Okanagan Friday.
Nelson snapped out of a two-game losing streak Saturday by dumping Grand Forks 7-2.
After the teams exchanged goals to open the game, defenceman Blake Arcuri picked the right time to score his first of the season to restore Nelson’s lead.
Fifty-seven seconds later Matthew Naka increased the margin to 3-1 with his fourth of the campaign.
Following a scoreless second period, Nelson added some insurance when Linden Horswill beat Matt Zenzola in the Spokane nets with a shorthanded marker.
Cody Boeckman turned aside 40 of 41 shots to register the win in goal for Nelson.
The win enable the Leafs to jump into a first-place tie in the Murdoch Division with Castlegar Rebels.
Both Castlegar and Nelson have played two more games than third-place Beaver Valley Nitehawks.
The Rebels lost 3-1 Sunday to Sicamous Eagles at home.
The Leafs get a short turn having to travel to Fruitvale Tuesday for a date against the Beaver Valley Nitehawks.
The last time Nelson ventured to the Hawks Nest Beaver Valley put some serious hurt on the Leafs pounding the Green and White 8-2.
Nelson then meets Grand Forks Thursday in the Boundary City.
