PHOTO: Timothy Matwey
CRANBROOK BC – A three point night from Luc Layin including twogoals and an assist, along with a single from Simon Labelle, wasn’t enough as the Spruce Kings drop a 5-3 decision against the Cranbrook Bucks. The series is now tied at two with Game 5 on Thursday at the RMCA.
1st PERIOD:
CRA: Jaden Fodchuk got the puck to the right circle and wristed it to the goal, and it snuck by Aaron Trotter to give the Bucks a 1-0 lead. Fodchuk’s first of the playoffs was assisted by Zeth Kindrachuk and Rhys Bentham at 10:01.
CRA: 36 seconds later, Brendan Rogers got the puck behind a cheating Spruce King defender to lead to an odd man rush, and he fired it glove side on Trotter to make it 2-0. Rogers first of the post-season was assisted by Carter Schmidt and Cameron Kungle at 10:37.
SHOTS:
PG 5 CRA 11
2nd PERIOD:
PG: 40 seconds into the period, Kolton Cousins won a face off back to Luc Laylin, and Laylin ran to the slot and wired a wrist shot by Nathan Airey to get the Spruce Kings on the board. Laylin’s third of the post-season was assisted by Cousins.
PG: Seven seconds later, Colton Cameron dumped the puck in from centre and the puck came again to Laylin at the right circle and roofed it short side by Airey to tie the game at two. Laylin’s second of the night and fourth of the playoffs was assisted by Cameron at 0:47.
CRA: During 4 on 4, Liam Hansson was dancing around the attacking zone and was able to spot Bauer Morrissey in tight and he slid the puck by Trotter to regain the Bucks lead. Morrissey’s first of the series was assisted by Hansson and Jarrod Smith at 6:12.
PG: Less than a minute later, on a PG power-play, Luc Laylin made a terrific pass from the left circle, spotting Simon Labelle who redirected the puck by Airey to tie the game back up at 3. Labelle’s second of the post-season was assisted by Laylin and Nick Marciano at 7:09.
CRA: In the latter half of the period on a Bucks power-play, Declan Ride was sitting in front of the goal trying to jam the puck home but it was Johnny Johnson the last one to touch it and it got by Trotter. Johnson’s power-play goal and first of the series was assisted by Declan Ride and Noah Quinn at 15:10.
SHOTS:
PG 12 CRA 12
3rd PERIOD:
CRA: With the Spruce Kings short-handed late in the game, they pulled Aaron Trotter to make it 5 on 5, but Tyson Dyck was able to put home an empty netter from the left circle to make it 5-3. Dyck’s second of the series was a power-play and empty net goal, assisted by Liam Hansson at 19:30.
SHOTS:
PG 7 CRA 6
FINAL SCORE:
PG 3 CRA 5
FINAL SHOTS:
PG 24 CRA 29
POWER-PLAYS:
PG: 1-3 CRA: 2-4
3 STARS:
- PG: Luc Laylin (2G 1A)
- CRA: Jaden Fodchuk (1G)
- CRA: Declan Ride (1A)
FORTIS BC ENERGY PLAYER OF THE GAME:
CRA: Bauer Morrissey (1G)
NEXT GAME:
A pivotal Game 5 goes down Thursday night at the Rolling Mix Concrete Arena. Puck drop is slated for 7:00 PM , and tickets are on sale now. You can secure your seatsHERE
