The Delta Ice Hawks managed to even the series with Ridge Meadows Flames tying the series at one game each with a resounding 6-1 win at the Ladner Leisure Centre.
Captain Gary Dhaliwal led the Ice Hawks with a two goal performance that saw a 16 save performance from goalkeeper Jordan Naylor.
The opening period saw a tight checking context by both teams with each having several scoring chances but it was the Ice Hawks who struck first with Gary Dhaliwal collecting a SH marker giving Delta the early 1-0 lead with helpers going to LeBlanc and Bukata.
Flames Paul Tucek was getting a well deserved rest for Ridge after a record setting game in triple O/T with a 87 save performance.
His solid performance allowed Ridge to steal game one in Delta with a 2-1 win over the Ice Hawks despite being out-shot by a 88-29 margin.
The Dhaliwal goal was the only one that found the back of the net past Cooper as the Ice Hawks held a slight 8-6 advantage in shots.
The Ice Hawks broke the game open in the second managing to score three times padding the lead as Nathan Pelletier managed to get one past Cooper at the nine minute mark making it 2-0 for Delta.
With under five minutes remaining in the second it was Ice Hawks Jordan Bogress that allowed them to extend Delta’s lead with helpers from Dhaliwal and Nelson.
Jesse Nelson gave the Ice Hawks a 4-0 lead at the 19:29 mark of the second as they headed to the dressing room in control of their destiny and the game.
The Flames collected their only goal of the game an early 21 seconds in the third with Strelezki cutting the Delta lead to 4-1.
Delta’s Alex Suprynowicz notched his first of the game with the man advantage that saw Delta extend the lead to 5-1 with Delta’s Gary Dhaliwal getting their final goal of the contest and his second of the night giving the Ice Hawks a 6-1 win.
The victory see’s Delta even the best of seven final even at one with Ice Hawks “tender” Jordan Naylor stop 16 of 17 shots he faced.
The Flames shooters improve their record to 9-2 in the postseason play while former Ice Hawk “tender” Copper Anderson kept his team in the game making 32 saves on the night.
The end of the game saw some very “chippy” play with Delta’s Daniel Szpakowski received a Match penalty that comes with a 8 game suspension.
So his season is over and his road to the Cyclone Taylor has come to an abrupt end on a very foolish play.
Games three and four change venues and are played at Planet Ice Arena in Ridge Meadows with game three set for Friday night at 8 pm and game 4 Sunday with the face-off set for 4:45 pm.
More great PJHL hockey action on the road to the Cyclone Taylor Cup!!
