Calvin sinks Leafs in OT to help Hawks even up Murdoch semi final
By Bruce Fuhr
The Nelson Leafs had the Beaver Valley Nitehawks right where they wanted them.
Leading 2-1 in the best-of-seven Murdoch Division Semi Final, the Green and White could take a stranglehold on the series with a home-ice win Tuesday night.
However, Dallas Calvin put the Hawks back on even terms scoring a power play marker three minutes into overtime to give Beaver Valley a 4-3 Kootenay International Junior Hockey League playoff victory at the NDCC Arena.
The series, tied 2-2, now shifts to Fruitvale for Game five with Game six back in Nelson Friday.
“Ya, this feels really good,” said Calvin minutes after cruising into the slot and snapping a shot past a screened Brett Soles in the Leaf nets.
“(Nelson) is a very good team but tonight we did a lot of little things right and buried our chances.”
The small, but important, parts to the Hawks game allowed the visitors grab a 2-0 lead two minutes into the second period.
Dan Holland scored in the last two minutes of the first frame before Derek Lashuk gave the Hawks a two-goal advantage early in the second.
The lead stood until Nelson got some life when Aaron Dunlap scored a shorthanded marker midway through the frame.
Less than two minutes later, Carsen Willans scored his first of the post season on a mad scramble in front of Beaver Valley goalie Jarrod Schamerhorn.
It was the longest wait between goal and celebration on record as referee Mike Paige needed what seemed like an eternity to consult with his linesmen before confirming the Nelson goal.
But the Hawks roared back before the period ended to grab another intermission lead.
Ryan Edwards did all the work behind the Nelson net, centering a pass that Keanan Patershuk buried past Soles.
“They came hard . . . they were pretty desperate for the win,” said Leaf defenceman Cam Weir.
“I thought we weathered the storm pretty well and came back and pushed back quite hard.”
Beaver Valley tried to lock down the Leafs in the third. But Bryce Nielsen jammed the puck pasts Schamerhorn with eight minutes remaining in the period to tie the game at 3-3.
Leaf captain did most of the work, driving past Hawks defenceman Walker Sidoni and forcing Schamerhorn to cough up a rebound Nielsen pushed into the net.
Nelson had a great opportunity early in overtime when Edwards was called for delay of game after shooting the puck over the glass.
However, the Hawks were able to kill off that penalty before being awarded their own man advantage when Edwards was hauled down at the Nelson blueline by the Leafs’ Kyler Wilkinson nullifying a potential Beaver Valley breakaway.
“We can’t really think that way . . . we’ve got to have a short memory,” Weir said when asked if the Leafs let one slip away in Game four.
“We’ve got to forget about it and move on and get ready for (Game five) Thursday.”
Tuesday’s win means the series now is a best-of-three affair with the Hawks regaining home ice advantage.
“Playing at home is great . . . our fans are great and we’re happy to be playing at home,” Calvin said.
ICE CHIPS: Nelson out shot the Hawks for the second straight night, 31-22. . . . After being shutout Monday in Game three, the Hawks got the power play working, going two for seven in the game. Nelson was scoreless in five attempts. . . .Nelson played without the services of forwards Dustin Reimer and Greg Nickel due to injury. . . .If a Game seven is necessary it will be played Saturday in Fruitvale. . . . Before the game, the Leafs recognized the Nelson Atoms winning the West Kootenay Championship over the weekend. . . .Game attendance topped the 600 mark.
