Leafs beat up Hawks 9-1 to square Murdoch Semi Final
By The Nelson Daily Sports
By Bruce Fuhr
The Nelson Daily Sports
Less than a week ago the Vegas odds makers were giving the Toronto Maple Leafs more of a chance to win the Stanley Cup than the Nelson Leafs winning a Murdoch Division playoff game.
What a difference a few days make.
After being out scored 17-4 in the first two games of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League playoffs, the Leafs have done the unthinkable, turning the tables on the Beaver Valley Nitehawks to even the Murdoch semi with a 9-1 shellacking Saturday night at the NDCC Arena.
And for those keeping score at home, Nelson has out scored the Hawks 14-4 in the last two games of the series that included a 5-3 victory Friday.
“I think it was out best game of the year and it couldn’t have come at a better time,” said Nelson netminder Marcus Beesley, who made 27 saves to backstop the Leafs to victory.
“As they say the fourth game of a series is usually the most important so it’s good to get that win,” added the Prince George native. “But at the same time we haven’t won anything yet and we must stay humble and be ready to bring our A-game (Monday).”
The win evens the best-of-seven Murdoch Division series at 2-2.
Game five is Monday in Fruitvale with game six set for Tuesday at the NDCC Arena.
If a game seven is necessary, it will be played Wednesday in the Beaver Valley.
For the second straight game the Leafs struck first. Patrick Martens scored his first playoff goal to give the home side the early lead.
However, for the first time in the series the Leafs scored the second goal of the game as Dustin Johnson snapped a wrist shot through a screen Mike Vlanich did not see go under his catching glove.
During a wild second period, that included a penalty shot and a handful of penalties to both teams, the Leafs special teams took over.
After Colton Malmsten fooled Vlanich with a quick wrister, Gavin Currie scored short handed before captain Taylor O’Neil and Riley Henderson scored power play markers.
Mason Spear sandwiched the only goal for Beaver Valley between the two special teams tallies for Nelson. But the damage had already been done as Nelson built a 6-1 lead after 40 minutes.
In the third Nelson kept on coming as O’Neil, scoring his second of the game, made it 7-1. Braeden Hikichi and Dallon Stoddart, drilling home a perfect pass from Hikichi, completed the scoring on the power play, giving Nelson five special teams goals on the night.
“Our confidence is shot right now,” Beaver Valley coach Terry Jones admitted after the game. “We’ve got a lot of guys that are squeezing the sticks real hard . . . Nelson is going the other way. They’re playing very well.”
“It’s two out of three right now so it’s going to be tough,” he added.
SERIES NOTES: Nelson defencemen combined for eight points on the night including four of the nine goals. . . .Leaf captain Taylor O’Neil had a career playoff game finishing with three points, including a pair of goals. . . .Dustin Johnson also had three points. . . .Joel Stewart was scratched for game four while defenceman Tyler Parfeniuk sat out due to a suspension picked up for receiving a game misconduct Friday. . . .Beaver Valley’s top line, that includes Nelson Minor Hockey grad Ryon Sookro and Chris Derochie, is a minus-four in the series. . . .Attendance for Saturday was 612. . . .Marcus Beesley was named player-of-the-game for Nelson. . . .Hawks’ sniper Dallas Calvin was held pointless Saturday for the first time this season. . . .Dustin Johnson of the Leafs missed a penalty shot awarded in the second period. . . .Hawks’ starting netminder Mike Vlanich was pulled for Zach Perehudoff in the second period. Jones said Vlanich will start Monday’s game five . . .Spectators were once again treated to some excellent skating by two Nelson Figure Skating senior members, Christina Champlin and Erica Tolles during the first intermission. . . .Castlegar Rebels, leading the other Murdoch semi 3-1, can eliminate the Spokane Braves when the teams meet Sunday in the Sunflower City.
sports@thenelsondaily.com
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