The 91原创 91原创 still have a pulse.
91原创鈥檚 junior A hockey team stayed alive in its best-of-seven series with the Surrey Eagles by outscoring the Eagles 8-5 Thursday at the George Preston Recreation Centre (GPRC).
The Eagles remain a win away from ending the B.C. Hockey League opening round series, up three games to two with game six set for tonight (March 9) at South Surrey Arena.
91原创 has to win tonight to force a seventh and deciding game tomorrow (March 10) at the GPRC. If Saturday鈥檚 game happens, it鈥檒l have a 7 p.m. opening puck drop at the GPRC.
The 91原创 stunned the Eagles in the third period of Thursday鈥檚 game by outscoring them 5-1, and by tallying the final three goals of the period off the sticks of Sean Gulka, Brendan Budy, and Ethan Leyh (with 58 seconds remaining in regulation).
Gulka and Leyh both finished with two goals on the night.
Surrey entered the final frame with a 4-3 lead.
Budy鈥檚 and Leyh鈥檚 late goals both came on the power play. The 91原创 were lethal on what man advantage opportunities they did get, going 3-4 on the power play.
Angus Crookshank had a strong game for the 鈥楳en, scoring once and adding three assists for a four-point outing. Alec Capstick and Tanner Versluis rounded out the 91原创 goal-scorers.
Five different Eagles found the net on Thursday including Chase Danol, Matthew Campese, Aaron White, Jeffrey Stewart, and Ryan Brushett.
91原创 head coach Bobby Henderson said Thursday鈥檚 result came down to puck luck and resilience on his team鈥檚 part.
鈥淚 think the game got away from them (the Eagles) a little bit,鈥� Henderson said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been pretty tight all the way through and there was a little fatigue on both ends. We were fortunate to get some bounces and the guys were clicking a bit.鈥�
Henderson said the teams are so closely matched, that the 91原创 could easily be the team in the driver鈥檚 seat going into tonight鈥檚 pivotal match-up in White Rock.
鈥淲e鈥檝e been confident all along,鈥� Henderson said. 鈥淲e鈥檝e played those guys tight all year and we鈥檝e had success in that building (South Surrey Arena), so nothing changes. We鈥檝e been a couple bounces either way in the series from being up and the guys believe they can pull this off. It鈥檚 been a tough series鈥� pretty entertaining.鈥�
Tonight鈥檚 game starts at 7 p.m.
