The Bonnyville Jr. A Pontiacs blew the roof off the RJ Lalonde Arena with a big 5-3 victory on Tuesday night against the Spruce Grove Saints to even the series at two games apiece.
The Bonnyville Jr. A Pontiacs blew the roof off the RJ Lalonde Arena with a big 5-3 victory on Tuesday night against the Spruce Grove Saints to even the series at two games apiece.
The win came off the back of a 4-1 Game 3 loss, which saw the Saints outshot the Pontiacs 37-27.
"We knew that we had to perform better. We didn't want to go back to Spruce Grove down 3-1 in the series," said Pontiacs head coach and GM Rick Swan. "We had to believe in our process; that being physical is going to create wear and tear on their guys and eventually allow us to take control."
It was clear Bonnyville was ready to play in Game 4 as the team came out flying and scored a goal just 26 seconds into the game. The goal came courtesy of forward Kyler Hehn, who notched his sixth of the playoffs.
Bonnyville's offensive onslaught continued as the team pummeled Spruce Grove netminder Brett Zarowny. The Pontiacs broke through again at the 9:57 mark when Brinson Pasichnuk drove hard to the goal and fired a shot in on Zarowny. Ryan Piche jumped all over the rebound to make it 2-0 for the home side.
"No doubt in my mind we were better prepared. We came to play today," said Pasichnuk.
Bobby McMann added to the Pontiacs lead just 2:40 into the second period when he walked down the left wing and blasted a shot high glove side on Zarowny. The goal gave Bonnyville a 3-0 lead and effectively ended Zarowny's night as he was pulled in favour of Matt Murray.
The goaltending switch seemed to spark the Saints as Tyler Busch and Carson Samoridny both found the back of the net in the final 10 minutes of the period to bring Spruce Grove within a goal.
Bonnyville didn't waste anytime adding an insurance goal scoring three minutes into the third period. Erik Donald picked the puck up off the faceoff rushed the goal and beat Murray to give the Pontiacs some breathing room.
"It was a botched play off a scrummed faceoff. I picked up the puck walked around the defenseman and just out waited the goalie. It was nice to get one like that," said Donald.
Four minutes after the Donald goal Spruce Grove's Samoridny slid of weak shot past an unsuspecting Troy Trombley to even the gap back to one.
The final six minutes of the game saw the Saints throw everything they had at Trombley and the Pontiacs goal. The visitors held the puck in the Bonnyville end for the majority of those six minutes but couldn't find an equalizer.
Swan said after the team got beat by several point shots in Game 3, they adjusted which helped them finish off Game 4.
"We knew that we were getting a bit too deep and a bit too puck focused in our end, which allowed their guys to be able to be open," said Swan. "In Game 4 we made a heck of a commitment to get into the shot lanes and that is tough. Even if they do get the pucks to the point, we are there to block."
After minutes of Saints pressure the Pontiacs were able to clear the zone. Dillan McCombie won a race to a loose puck and hit an empty net with 11 seconds remaining to seal a 5-3 victory.
"It was a great turnaround," said Donald after the game. "They guys came out for a great 60 minutes effort, which is all we wanted. We were banging bodies. I am sure they are hurting over there and we are going to keep bringing it to them every game."
The victory sends the series back to Spruce Grove on Friday night with both teams having won two games apiece.
"It is going to be a hard game. It is a hard building to play in," said Pasichnuk. "If we play our game and stay physical we will take it to them."
Game 6 will be back in Bonnyville on Sunday night. Puck drop is set for 7:30 p.m.
"Our guys recognize that Spruce Grove is a good team, but so are we," said Swan. "Once they started believing that we are a great team, then we started having success. We know that it is a best of three series now and I think we have as good a chance as any to close it out."
