The Sherwood Park Crusaders continue to show resilience and overcome adversity at every corner of their Second Round series against the Spruce Grove Saints.
This time around it was picking up a victory in Game Five of the Viterra North Division Semi Finals, 6-3 on the road in Spruce Grove Friday night.
The Crusaders scored early and most importantly, first, in the opening 20 minutes of Game Five. Cameron Brezinski got the ball rolling for the Crusaders just under three minutes in, while Lane Zablocki, who made his playoff debut on Friday, made it 2-0 not even five minutes into the hockey game.
The Saints would pull within one on the Power Play but a late goal in the final minute of the first from Tyler Maltby restored the two goal lead for the Crusaders.
Sherwood Park weathered the Saint attack in early in the second period including killing off a four minute double minor handed out to Forward Tyler Maltby for High Sticking. The Crusaders were able to take control of the second period scoring twice in the six minutes, chasing Goaltender Brett Zarowny, to take a commanding 5-1 lead after forty minutes.
The Saints would not go quietly as Tyler Busch scored for Spruce Grove cutting the Crusader lead to 5-2. Spruce Grove would get a little closer half way through the third when Paul Lovsin made things interesting at 5-3, however, the Crusaders would hold off the Saints including a couple of minutes of six on five play to take Game Five 6-3.
Tommy Nixon made 31 saves in the victory and looks like he has settled in and has shown everyone why he was a nominee for the league’s Top Goaltender Award this season.
The Crusaders will look to extend the Best Of Seven series to final game when they host the Saints Sunday night for Game Six at the Sherwood Park Arena at 7:30 PM.
-Story By Taylor Medak