Ice Hawks avoid elimination
Just 15 minutes away from series-clinching victory, the North Delta Devils will need to go to at least a sixth game before eliminating the Delta Ice Hawks.
Leading the series 3-1, and ahead 1-0 after two periods in game five Tuesday night at the Ladner Leisure Centre, the Devils conceded a pair of powerplay goals in a 2-1 loss.
As has been the pattern in four of the five games, the Ice Hawks held a shots on goal advantage, but a 25-10 margin in the first 40 minutes produced nothing.
Sam Vikich notched the game’s first goal after seven minutes of play, with an assist from Stephen Campbell.
But North Delta ran into penalty trouble in the final period, and Delta took advantage by scoring twice on three powerplay opportunities. John Proctor tied the game with 15 minutes to play, then Ryan Cuthbert scored the winning goal with just two minutes left.
Harry Fredeman was again a standout in the North Delta net, making 31 saves.
The two rivals played game six tonight (Wednesday) at the Sungod Arena.
If a seventh game is necessary, it will be played Friday at 8:15 p.m. at the Kerrisdale Arena in Vancouver.
The series winner will face the first place Richmond Sockeyes in the semifinal round. The Sockeyes, losers of just seven games in the regular season, dropped the first game of their quarterfinal series with the North Vancouver Wolf Pack. But after their 4-3 loss last Thursday, Richmond won four in a row by a combined 25-7 score.
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