Braedon Gurney's goal five minutes into the third period not only broke up a two-goal momentum swing, but keyed a three goal run for the Grandview Steelers, setting the stage in a 5-2 victory over the Delta Icehawks on Tuesday.
The win in Ladner gave Grandview a 2-1 series lead in the Pacific Junior B Hockey League semifinal.
The Steelers led 2-0, on goals by Nicolas Bizzutto and Ian Prevost, but Delta rallied to pull even, tying it 30 seconds into the third on Michael Schellenberg's third goal of the series.
But Gurney countered at 5:08, and was followed a minute later when Bizzutto deposited his second of the game. Nico Bruno capped the offence with 3:14 left in the third.
Cole MacInnes turned aside 28 shots in the win.
The series continues Saturday in Delta.
In Game 2, an unfortunate penalty led to an unfortunate ending for the Steelers.
While the ending was particularly tough to swallow, head coach Aldo Bruno once again could point to a sluggish start as a habit he’d like to see his charges break -- and soon.
“We started off really slowly in the first and Delta took it to us,” remarked Bruno.
“While we settled down and scored (first) it’s something we need to fix.”
Scoreless after 20 minutes, the game evolved with the Steelers taking the lead just 17 seconds into the middle frame on Gurney’s powerplay marker. Schellenberg tied it up for Delta midway through the period.
Neither team could put one past the opposing netminder in the third.
After a 10-minute bridge overtime, the two teams returned for the second extra session eager to put an end to the game.
Schellenberg scored at 8:01 of the second overtime on a powerplay, an extra-man chance that Bruno called “questionable.”
“It was frustrating. It wasn’t a typical powerplay goal, more of a broken play.”
Jacob Latrace turned in a stellar performance for the Icehawks, turning aside 44 shots, including eight in extra time, to backstop the visitors’ victory.
Nearly as stellar was MacInnes, who made 35 saves.
“Both goalies were excellent,” said Bruno. “We had a lot of quality shots and there were a number of big stops made, by both.
“We have to create more offence for sure, and by that we need to get in on (Latrace’s) area, we need more traffic in front of him.”
The teams now have combined for a total of just eight goals over the first two games, while compiling 147 shots on net.
Getting a better start would also be a big step, said Bruno.
“I think the guys were pretty loose and focused but we let them take it to us,” he noted. “You hope by re-inforcing the message to come out strong will register, but it comes down to the little things, the details.”
Game 5 is scheduled for Sunday, 4 p.m. at the Burnaby Winter Club.
