Ice take a 3-2 series lead

The Kootenay Ice built a leads of 3-1, 5-2 and 6-3 then held on for a 6-5 victory in Game 5 at Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary.

The win gives the Ice a 3-2 series lead heading back to Cranbrook with a chance to win the series Saturday night.

Sam Reinhart turned in a first star performance with five points (1g-4a) while Jaedon Descheneau scored twice and set up another for Kootenay who has now won back-to-back games in the series.

The game served up a controversial end to the second period when Kootenay's sixth goal appeared to enter the net after time had expired.  The replay of the goal from the overhead camera angle shown on the scoreboard indicated the period had ended before Descheneau's shot had gone in.  However the goal stood and the WHL released the following statement after the game.

“The video evidence in the Video Goal Judge booth clearly showed the puck had crossed the line with 0.1 seconds remaining on the clock. The Video Goal Judge booth is considered the official time clock when reviewing goals and is the same system utilized by the NHL.”

Ironically that controversial goal went on to become the game winner.

                                            Photo Credit:  Brad Watson - Hitmen

Kootenay Ice 6 at Calgary Hitmen 5
Thursday, March 27, 2014 - Scotiabank Saddledome - Calgary, AB

Kootenay 2 4 0 - 6
Calgary 1 2 2 - 5

1st Period
1, Calgary, Tambellini 3 (Chase, Rissling), 2:04 (PP).
2, Kootenay, Descheneau 3 (Franko, Reinhart), 5:56 (PP).
3, Kootenay, Reinhart 5   19:15.
Penalties-Cross Ktn (tripping), 1:46; Thomas Cal (hooking), 5:39; Helgesen Cal (charging), 12:10; McPhee Ktn (boarding), 14:47.

2nd Period
4, Kootenay, Cable 2 (Descheneau, Reinhart), 0:55.
5, Calgary, Peterson 1 (Lang, Thomas), 2:44.
6, Kootenay, Alfaro 1 (Franko, Vetterl), 5:18.
7, Kootenay, Philp 4 (Murray, Reinhart), 6:23.
8, Calgary, Helgesen 1 (Brassart, Chase), 18:28 (PP).
9, Kootenay, Descheneau 4 (Reinhart, Cable), 19:59.
Penalties-Rissling Cal (elbowing), 3:09; Dirk Ktn (hooking), 11:52; Dirk Ktn (interference), 16:41.

3rd Period
10, Calgary, Chase 4 (Helgesen, Brassart), 12:50.
11, Calgary, Tambellini 4 (Virtanen, Fazleev), 18:46.
Penalties-Rissling Cal (checking from behind), 2:46; Vetterl Ktn (tripping), 6:10; Philp Ktn (major-fighting), 17:06; Lang Cal (major-fighting), 17:06.

Shots on Goal
Kootenay 10-7-7-24. Calgary 5-9-17-31.

Power Play Opportunities
Kootenay 1 / 4; Calgary 2 / 5.

Goalies
Kootenay, Hoflin 4-1-0-0 (31 shots-26 saves). Calgary, Driedger 2-3-0-0 (14 shots-10 saves); Shields 0-1-0-0 (10 shots-8 saves).

A-6,826

Referees-Tyler Adair (58), Matt Kirk (4).
Linesmen-Chris Carlson (92), Sean Donnelly (109).