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The Kimberley Dynamiters have forced Game 6.
They did so with a 4-3 come-from-behind win last night in Creston; the Thundercats had held a 3-1 lead after the opening period.
Creston had also held a 3-0 advantage in the best-of-seven series, but Kimberley has won two in a row to stay alive.
After winning Tuesday night, Dynamiters’ head coach Kevin MacKay said the pressure was squarely on the Thundercats.
The same applies to tonight’s Game 6, which starts at 7:30 at the Civic Centre.
“They’ve got to put us away, and the old cliché is the fourth game is the hardest to win,” said MacKay. “We have zero pressure. We’re just having a good time out there, we’re kind of loose and playing our game. We’re establishing a great presence with our forecheck and keeping them hemmed in pretty good. The pressure will be on them until they put us away or we finish them off.”
If needed, Game 7 would be Saturday night back in Creston.
Matt Foster scored two goals, including the winner. Adam Taylor had a goal against his former team, and set up Brennan Foreman’s marker that opened scoring at 3:32.
After Foreman posted the early lead, Creston struck three times in the space of four-and-a-half minutes to take it for themselves.
Kimberley had taken three minor penalties in a row, and Joel James scored on the third advantage.
Robbie Stuckey and Colton Meaden scored even-strength to make it 3-1.
MacKay said the Nitros were tuckered out from having to kill those quick penalties.
“You only go with about four forwards, and then everybody is a little bit tired and a little out of synch. We made a couple of mistakes and they got the lead back but we stayed pretty disciplined, pretty focused after that.”
Kimberley took over in the middle frame, outshooting Creston 14-5.
Creston’s lead lasted until about eight minutes into the second, when Foster and Taylor scored within 22 seconds of each other to tie the game.
MacKay said Taylor was a happy camper after the game — the fans had been jeering him moments before he scored his goal.
“Then it got pretty quiet,” said the coach. “He’s a guy they love to hate, and they think they can get him off his game, but he was pretty good (last night) about staying within his limits. He was just driving to the net and got the opportunity and shot it hard.”
Foster rippled the twine again early in the third.
Foster scored his first goals of the playoffs last night, after notching 40 in the regular season.
“With Matt, if he scores one he can score a bunch,” said MacKay. “If he gets that first one of the game, then he’s off. He’s got a little more jump in his step.”
Creston had no reply despite pulling goalie Sunny Gill with 1:15 left.
Gill made 31 saves in the losing effort, and Tory Caldwell stopped 26 to post Kimberley’s first victory in seven tries at Johnny Bucyk Arena this year.
NOTE — As tonight’s game time coincides with the Canada-Slovakia men’s hockey semi-final, fans are reminded the Olympic broadcast will be shown at the Civic Centre.
