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In an exciting second overtime finish in game 5 saw the Delta Ice Hawks put themselves right back into the series with a 3-2 overtime win. Liam Harding was the catalyst scoring two goals, the game winner and getting an assist as he lead the Hawks to a comeback from being down 2-0.
Getting his first goal of the playoffs and starting the Sockeyes off on the right foot was Eli Wiebe. A Connor Wilson shot was not seen by Hawks goalie Nick Enegren, with the puck laying right beside him Wiebe doves in a last ditch effort to poke the puck in and it worked. The puck just barely slid into the net and past the goal line to give Richmond a lead.
Richmond wasn't done there though, in picture perfect fashion the top line scored a beautiful goal to give the Sockeyes a two goal advantage. The whole line broke in on a three on one and the Ice Hawks defender couldn't handle all of them, Thorsteinson gpt the puck to Hamaguchi and he found Roder wide open on the side of the net. This was a sweet tic-tac-toe goal for a 2-0 lead.
With all kinds of chances to extend the lead Richmond threw everything they had at Nick Enegren but they couldn't extend that lead to three goals and it would eventually prove costly. Clayton Wright took a tripping call and Delta went to work on its deadly power play, it came in with a 40% power play. Liam Harding got the puck after a pass from Kye Benjaminsen and he scored with just twelve seconds left in the period. This goal would totally change the outlook of the game.
The second period was all Delta, relentless chances and scoring opportunities but luckily Aaron Oakley played great. holding them scoreless in the period. Richmond's penalty killing came up big, preventing Delta from scoring on two chances as affiliate Dean Allison and goalie Aaron Oakley took penalties. But after the second it was still 2-1 Sockeyes and they were outshooting Delta 20-19.
Richond was just twenty minutes away from making the PIJHL finals, twenty minutes away from facing Port Moody or Abbotsford, Delta had other thoughts. Non stop action inside the Sockeyes zone would eventually turn into a goal for Delta. With the opponents top line on the ice, the Sockeyes went into a defensive lapse allowing them way too much time and space. Harding got the puck to Cody Smith who spotted a wide open Spencer Traher. Traher has been deadly all series long, and with that much time and space he fired a hard shot past Oakley to tie the game in the final five minutes. This was an absolute back breaker as the Sockeyes were so close to winning. With the score tied 2-2 at the final buzzer the game headed to the first overtime.
What else could have been expected from these two fierce competitors? All the Sockeyes would need is that one opportunity to win this series and in the first overtime they had plenty of them. Hamaguchi and Thorsteinson both rang shots off the post. It was absolute relentless back and forth action for both squads but no goals were scored.
The second overtime came and it really appeared like this game could go forever. Thorsteinson had another glorious chance he was open in front with Enegren down on the ice, but he sent it over the net. Delta had its chance to, a tipped shot was squeaking to the goal line, but defenceman Turner Popoff dove into the net to stop the puck from crossing it.
On a sudden Ice Hawks rush up the ice the game would see its final shot. Cody Fidgett spotted Spencer Traher. Traher took a hard shot the hit Oakley' pad, it was a nice save but the rebound spelt doom. Of all the people it went straight to captain Liam Harding and he easily buried the rebound for the 3-2 double overtime win.
Richmond was not able to shut down that line with Harding and they ran over the Sockeyes. Aaron Oakley still played great stopping 36 shots, but it was a case that Enegren was that little bit better. After he allowed that second goal he simply shut the door and wouldn't allow anything past him, making 39 saves. Stopping countless Sockeyes scoring opportunities.
This was not only a big win for the Ice Hawks because it forces a game 6, but because Richmond suffered injuries to Goundar and Chichak. This adds to the compounding injuries faced by Ryan Cooper and Drew Spencer as well.
Richmond now faces a surging Ice Hawks team at the Ladner Leisure Centre on Tuesday for game six at 7:30 p.m. Richond will either close out the series or head back for game seven at the Minoru Arena on Wednesday at 8:15. You can catch Tuesdays game on http://www.deltaicehawks.com at UStream. If there is a game 7 you can watch it on SockeyesTV www.richmondsockeyes.com
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