Bruins drop heartbreaker to Leafs, now meet Beaver Valley in playoffs
By Boundary Sentinel
The Nelson Leafs picked a great time to win its first game in Grand Forks this season.
The Leafs built a 3-0 lead after 40 minutes, then held off a late charge to beat the Border Bruins 5-2 in Kootenay International Junior Hockey League action Saturday night in the Boundary City.
Nelson not only won its first game in the Boundary City, but also was able to slip past the Bruins into third spot in the Murdoch Division standings and avoid meeting Beaver Valley Nitehawks in the opening round of the playoffs.
The Nitehawks have owned the KIJHL this season, with only five losses this season.
Grand Forks now faces KIJHL regular season champion Beaver Valley beginning Friday in Fruitvale.
Game two is Saturday before the teams shift to Grand Forks Monday for Games three and four, February 27 and Tuesday, February 28.
Power play goals by Alex Meeker and Nicholas Wihak along with a Logan Wullum marker gave Nelson the 3-0 lead after two periods.
Trey Mason finally beat Leafs netminder Devin Allen to cut the margin to 3-1 early in the third.
However, Mason Mullaney answered to restore the three-goal advantage less than a minute later.
With two Leaf players in the penalty box, Grand Forks Jordan Robertson scored on the power play. However, Mullaney, with his second of the game, scored shorthanded to secure the Leafs win.
The Border Bruins out shot the Green and White 41-33 during the game, including a 19-8 advantage in the third, but had difficulty beating a red-hot Allen in the Nelson nets.
Allen, who has been a key to the Leafs recent three-game winning streak to end the regular season, was named game star for the visitors.
Anthony Galliart took the loss in goal for Grand Forks, which has lost four straight games down the stretch.
The Leafs now face another formidable opponent, the Castlegar Rebels, beginning Friday in the Sunflower City.
Game two goes Saturday in Castlegar before the best-of-seven series shifts to the Heritage City for Games three and four, Monday, February 27 and Tuesday, February 28.
BLUELINES: Nelson played the game without defenceman Michael LeNoury, who was hit with a five-game suspension for an accumulation of check-to-head minors. LeNoury is eligible to return February 28. . .Bruins Brady Berger was also missing Saturday's game, serving two games for a similar offence.