Rebels ride Zubick to 3-1 victory over Leafs
By The Nelson Daily Sports
It’s an Achilles Heel that keeps on haunting the Nelson Leafs — goal scoring.
For the second straight game all the Green and White could manage was a single goal en route to dropping a 3-1 decision to the Castlegar Rebels Friday night in Kootenay International Junior Hockey League action at the NDCC Arena.
The win by the Rebels evens the season series between the two Murdoch Division rivals a 1-1-1.
Despite being out shot 11-9 by the visitors, it was the Leafs getting on the scoreboard first as Nolan Percival combined with Tim Nichols and Matt MacDonald to open the scoring five minutes into the first period.
However, Castlegar tied up the game catching the Leafs on the power play with a shorthanded tally by Mike Bhatoa midway through the frame.
In the second Cal Owens scored what proved to be the winner, scoring on Nelson netminder Adam Maida.
Lindan Calliou scored into an empty net in the third to seal the win for the Rebels.
Nelson out shot Castlegar 32-29 but Patrick Zubick, named the Away Star, came up big throughout the game to silence the Leafs offence.
Zubick held Nelson to a single goal last weekend in a 1-1 overtime tie between the two teams.
Nelson now drops into a tie with the red-hot Beaver Valley Nitehawks for top spot in the Murdoch Division.
Beaver Valley, winners of three straight games, edged Kimberley Dynamiters 4-3 in Fruitvale.
Kimberley suffered its second consecutive loss after starting the season 6-0.
Nelson returns to action Saturday when Spokane visits the NDCC Arena for a 7 p.m. puck drop.
The Leafs conclude the weekend Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. in Castlegar against the Rebels.
Meanwhile Castlegar host Revelstoke Grizzlies at 7 p.m. in the Castlegar Complex.
