Leafs down to last out after Braves steal Game five in Murdoch Semi Final Series
By The Nelson Daily Sports
The Spokane Braves are one win away from posting the upset over the Murdoch Division Regular Season Champs after the Lilac City squad skated to a 4-1 Kootenay International Junior Hockey League Playoff victory over the Leafs Monday night at the NDCC Arena.
The Braves now leads the best-of-seven Murdoch Semi Final Series 3-2 with Game six Tuesday in Spokane.
A controversial goal in the third period proved to be the difference in this hotly-contested game. Bear Hughes took advantage of the error by the linesman, scoring five minutes into the third period to snap a 1-1 tie and power the Braves past a Leafs team that finished 30 points ahead in Murdoch Division standings.
Jed Butler and Kade Levins scored shorthanded in the third period to to secure the victory — Levins tally coming with Leafs netminder Caiden Kreitz on the bench as Nelson coaches pulled out all stops to try to tie the game.
Nate Wilson opened the scoring for the Braves in the first period. Reid Wilson tied the game in the second, snapping a shot past surprise starter Ben Waslaski in the Spokane nets.
Waslaski started in place of Campbell Arnold, who has been rock solid during the first four games of the series for the Braves.
Nelson outshot the Braves 29-27. Waslaski was named Game Star for Spokane while Reid Wilson earned the honour for the Leafs.
ICE CHIPS: This is the first time all season Nelson has lost three consecutive games. . . . Nelson called up affiliate player Reid Vulcano to fill in for injured players, defenceman Michael LeNoury and forward Josh Stypka. . . . In the past three games, Spokane has outscored Nelson 13-5. . . . Kade Levins finished the game with three points for Spokane. . . . If necessary, Game seven goes Wednesday at 7 p.m. in the NDCC Arena. . . . The winner of this series meets Beaver Valley Nitehawks. The Hawks swept past Grand Forks Border Bruins, clinching the series with a 6-2 victory Sunday in the Boundary City.
