Braves smother Leafs to even Murdoch Division series; Hawks open playoffs with victory
By The Nelson Daily Sports
The game was boring, without any excitement forcing the hometown crowd into stints of yawning.
So in other words, Game two of the Murdoch Division Semi Final between the Spokane Braves and the Nelson Leafs was a perfect road game for the visitors.
Spokane took advantage of mental errors and less than potent Leafs offence to steal a 5-3 Kootenay International Junior Hockey League playoff road victory Wednesday night at the NDCC Arena.
The win pulls Spokane even in the best-of-seven series with Games three and four set for Friday and Saturday in the Lilac City.
Tied 1-1 after 20 minutes, the visitors outscored the Leafs 3-1 in the second period to take a commanding 4-2 advantage into the final frame.
The Braves then checked the Leaf offence into submission before adding a fifth goals to head back to the home of the Braves all-square.
Matt Thurston led the Braves with a pair of goals with singles going to Kyle Davis, Kurtis Reading and Tanner Stolz as Spokane scored three times on the power play.
Travis Wellman, Conor Tetlack and Brandon Sookro, in the final minute of the game, replied for Nelson.
Jan Manlow out dueled Adam Maida in the battle of the netminders. Spokane out shot Nelson 30-28.
LEAF NOTES: The Leafs were once again missing top guns Jamie Vlanich and Linden Horswill along with netminder Brad Rebagliati due to injury. No word from the Leafs on when any of the three may be back in the lineup. . . . Quinn Klimchuk saw his first action at a Leaf during Game two of the series. The Castlegar native played 10 games for the Rebels before being released and picked up by Nelson. . . .The win by Spokane means the teams will be back in Nelson Monday for Game five of the series at the NDCC Arena. . . . Beaver Valley opened the playoffs with a 3-1 win over Castlegar in Game one of the Murdoch Semi Final Wednesday in Fruitvale. Ryan Edwards, Taylor Stafford and Keanan Patershuk scored for the Hawks. Hunter Jenerou replied for the Rebels, which held a 1-0 lead after one period. Game two of the series goes Thursday in Fruitvale before the series shifts to Castlegar for Game three Friday.
