GRANDE PRAIRIE, AB – The Sherwood Park Crusaders were unable to continue the offensive output they had in game four of the north division quarter final into Wednesday's fifth and deciding game as they fell to the Grande Prairie Storm 6-1 and lose the best of five series, 3-2.
In turn it was the Storm carrying out the offense Wednesday night as they score twice in each period and won the special teams battle as well.
The Crusaders allowed the games opening goal for the fifth straight game in the series at 7:56 of the first period.
Sherwood Park would dig themselves a deeper hole as they fell down 2-0 just four minutes later to the Storm.
The turning point could be the fact the Crusaders were unable to execute on their three power plays which occured in the second period, all in the first ten minutes.
Grande Prairie would add to their lead scoring immediately after killing off their third minor penalty and then made it 4-0 with a power play goal at 19:38. Both Storm goals in the second period came on the man-advantage.
The Storm would get on the board early in the third increasing their lead to 5-0.
The Crusaders would eventually solve Storm Goaltender Ethan Slobodzian at 14:17 as Ashton Casault scored his second goal of the series with the assists going to Brandon Wallis.
Grande Prairie would pour a little salt into the wound adding their sixth at 19:44.
With the loss, the Crusaders bow out of the post season in the first round for the second straight year for the first time since 2011.
Grande Prairie, will now face the Spruce Grove Saints in the second round of the Inter Pipeline Playoffs, the game five win is the franchises first series win since 2010.
BOXSCORE: Storm 6 Crusaders 1
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