Sawyer Hunt Plays Overtime Hero, Again
By The Nelson Daily Sports
Facing a must-win, the Nelson Leafs turned to its captain to provide leadership.
Sawyer Hunt scored his second overtime goal of the playoffs to spark the Nelson Leafs to a 1-0 victory over the Castlegar Rebels in Kootenay International Junior Hockey League Murdoch Division Semi Final action Tuesday night at the NDCC Arena.
The best-of-seven series is now tied 2-2 with Game five Thursday in the Sunflower City.
Hunt scored the overtime winner in Game one, netting the difference-maker in the fourth extra time period.
The win, in double overtime, means Nelson will host Game six of the series Friday at the NDCC Arena.
Puck drop is 7 p.m.
Less than 24 hours after dropping Game three of the series also in double overtime, the Leafs came out forcing the issue against the Rebels.
Nelson out shot the Rebels 11-5 in the first period then fired 13 more shots at Castlegar goalie Chandler Billinghurst in the second frame to a 24-10 advantage after 40 minutes.
The Leafs continued the assault in the third period and overtime, finishing with a 39-15 advantage before Hunt scored his second-game winner of the series.
Devin Allen registered a bounce-back game to earn the shutout for the Leafs.
OVERTIME: Defencemen Michael LeNoury and Brent Headon both were back in the Leafs lineup after serving suspensions . . . .If necessary, Game seven will be played Saturday in Castlegar . . . . Beaver Valley Nitehawks booked its ticket to the Murdoch Final by outlasting Grand Forks Border Bruins 7-4 and sweeping the Divisional Semi Final 4-0. The Hawks out shot the Bruins 25-9 in the opening frame, opening a 5-1 lead. . . In Invermere, the Creston Valley Thunder Cats eliminated Columbia Valley Rockies 4-0 with a 5-3 victory. Meanwhile, Kimberley Dynamiters evened its series against Fernie with a 3-2 road win over the Ghostriders.
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