Goaltending tipped the scales in the Grandview Steelers' direction and propelled the Pacific Junior B Hockey League team past the Richmond Sockeyes on Thursday, moving the Burnaby-based team into the second round of the playoffs.
Cale Dolan continued his stellar play, stopping 45 shots in Game 5 and piloting his squad to a 3-1 series-clinching win.
It was also Grandview's third win on Richmond ice. Although the Sockeyes finished ahead of the Steelers in the Tom Shaw Conference, they were met by a determined rival, led by their 20-year-old puckstopper.
After a scoreless first period, the Steelers' Tomislav Zlomislic opened the scoring three minutes into the middle frame, converting a Tristyn Olson setup. The Sockeyes replied 12 minutes later when Isaac Embree cashed in on the powerplay. However, the visitors responded in kind, racking up a critical powerplay tally of their own when Ethan Reilly tallied with just four seconds left in the period.
That bolt of momentum carried over to the next period. In the third, Zlomislic gave Grandview a two-goal lead just 1:46 in.
While the Sockeyes pressed for the equalizer, Dolan was rock-solid, turning aside all 15 shots.
Grandview advances to the next round.
More to come...
