Leafs outlast Rebels, advance to Murdoch Final
By The Nelson Daily Sports
The Nelson Leafs live to play again.
Ryan Quast scored a shorthanded goal early in the third period to power the hometown Leafs to a 3-1 Kootenay International Junior Hockey League playoff victory Wednesday at the NDCC Arena.
The Leafs, after being down 3-1, win the best-of-seven Murdoch Semi-final series 4-3.
Nelson which finished the regular season 29 points ahead of the Rebels, now advances to the Murdoch Division Final against the winner of the Beaver Valley-Creston series.
Game seven of the other Murdoch Division Semi Final matchup goes Thursday night in Fruitvale.
Quast scored the game-winning tally at 3:29 of the third period, snapping a 1-1 tie.
Bennett Anklewich added an insurance marker midway through the period.
Presley Gordon opened the scoring for Nelson late in the first period before Justin Duguay tied the game in the second with this fourth goal of the series as the Rebels peppered Leaf goalie Tenzin Mint with 11 shots in the frame.
MInt finished the game facing 27 shots.
Trailing 3-1 in the series, Nelson won three straight games starting with a 6-3 home-ice win Monday.
The Leafs continued the comeback Tuesday in Castlegar as the visitors escaped with 4-3 double-overtime victory.
Tyler Pisiak scored a 4:39 of the second overtime period to force a seventh game in the series.
The KIJHL has not released dates of the Murdoch Division Final.
KIJHL second round starts Friday
Three of the four division final series in the KIJHL are ready to start.
In the Eddie Mountain Division, Kimberley Dynamiters host Columbia Valley beginning Friday in the Bavarian City.
Meanwhile in the Doug Birks Division, Kamloops Storm faces Revelstoke Grizzlies while Osoyoos Coyotes host Summerland Steam in the Bill Ohlhausen Final.
