The Delta Ice hawks staved off elimination last in Richmond at Minoru Arena with a 5-4 win over the Richmond Sockeyes forcing game six in their best of their best of seven Tom Shaw Conference championship series.
The series heads back to Delta Saturday night at the Leisure Centre.
Kolton Grieve scored the game winner at 5:42 on the power play for the Ice Hawks. In a game that meant “keep the series going, or pack it up for the summer” Delta took the early lead (1-0) and held it till the end of one. David Rudin scored late in the period with 39 seconds remaining in a wide open period that saw both tenders tested several times.
Richmond managed 27 shots while Delta managed an even dozen (12) to round out the first. Sockeye’s starting goalkeepers Kootenay Alder was back in the nets after being pulled in game four giving up three early goals to Delta and Alexander Ahnert back for Delta. Ahnert also recovered allowing three goals in the second period Tuesday, but on this night both were solid. Kootenay recorded 11 saves and Ahnert with stopped 14.
Delta extended the lead to 2-0 early in the second period as Walter got an unassisted effort at 3:58.
The Sockeye’s rebounded tying the game as Lawson and Thorsteinson scored two minutes apart to even the game at 2-2. The Ice Hawks went ahead 3-2 on a goal by Brito with under 6 minutes, but the Sockeye’s rebounded – again. Centis beat Ahnert with 1:41 remaining in the second as the teams went to the intermission deadlocked shots through 40 minutes. Shots overall were 30-27 for the Sockeyes through two.
Delta scored twice in the final period to open a 5-3 lead on goals by Brito PP at 5:17 and the game winner was scored by Grieve a short 25 seconds later.
At this point the Ice Hawks maintained a 5-3 lead. Richmond (again) rebounded to narrow the score, making it a 5-4 game with 9 minutes remaining.
This marker was off the stick of Jake Roder who beat Ahnert on the stick side to notch one, getting them closer.
Try as they like, Richmond pressed for the equalizer but were unable to get it against the Ice Hawks, who put a stone wall on defense to preserve a 5-4 victory.
That win allows Delta to live for another day forcing game 6 back in Delta Saturday night at the Leisure Centre. Final shots in the game were 38-33 for Richmond as Ahnert finished with 34 saves and Alder (Sockeye’s) was also solid making 28 saves in the loss for Richmond.
If a game 7 is required in the series it goes Monday night in Richmond at Minoru at 7:30pm. The winner of this series will meet the Aldergrove Kodiaks in the best of seven PJHL championship series.
