Kieran Christianson’s game-winning goal was, by his own admission, not one you’d see on a highlights reel. But it might also be one of the most important goals of the Nelson Leafs’ season.
In the second period of Nelson’s game Friday against Castlegar, a Rebels defenceman was tardy clearing the puck from behind the net and Leafs captain Leighton Partington pounced. He stole the puck and passed to Christianson, whose shot confused Castlegar goalie Ethan Lawczynski and slid across the line.
Christianson described it as a “weak backhand.” But hey, a goal’s a goal.
“It kind of threw him off. I was happy it went in.”
That turned out to be the difference maker as the Leafs went on to beat the Rebels 5-2.
The win secured third place in the Neil Murdoch Division for the Leafs, who are now guaranteed to play the second-place Grand Forks Border Bruins when the first round of the playoffs begins.
“They’re going to be tough opponents still, but I think we can do it,” said Christianson. “We’re rolling right now.”
Christianson and Crae Dawson each had two goals, while Quinn Ramsay added a late single for the Leafs (23-17-3). Karl Soneff meanwhile stopped 26 shots.
Logan Arsenault and Antonio Ferrise replied for the Rebels (20-19-4). Lawczynski allowed all five goals on 37 shots.
Leafs head coach Briar McNaney said the game showed the team is building well ahead of the playoffs.
“Things are starting to come together at the right time. We’re pretty proud as the staff here about what these guys did this game and we’re excited to get started next weekend against Grand Forks.”
Game 1 is in Grand Forks on Friday, Feb. 23, followed by Game 2 on Feb. 24. The series moves to Nelson for Game 3 on Monday, Feb. 26 and Game 4 the following night on Feb. 27.
“[Grand Forks is] going to try to be as old school as it gets,” said McNaney. “They’re going to try to run us out of the building physically. We’re not a team that’s intimidated easily. We have a pretty fiery group so we match up pretty well against them.”
Dawson put the Leafs into the lead just three minutes into regulation. He was waiting in the slot for a pass from Ramsay, who circled the net and fed Dawson’s perfect wrist shot.
It was Dawson again with 4:50 left in the first period. The Leafs had just started a power play when Kane Kennedy passed to Dawson. His point shot flew through a crowd into the top corner of the net for a 2-0 lead.
Nelson got into penalty trouble after Christianson’s second-period goal. But its PK unit, which has been money in the second half of the season, took care of a 5-on-3 then one more penalty shortly after.
If Christianson’s first goal was a little fluky, his next was all skill.
Nelson was again playing shorthanded when Christianson outskated a Rebel in the neutral zone, took possession near Lawczynski and whipped a wrist shot far side. That gave the Leafs a 4-0 advantage with 14 seconds left in the second period.
“I don’t think [the Rebels defender] expected me to go over him like that. I got him off guard.”
McNaney praised Christianson and Dawson, who were constant offensive threats throughout the game.
“I thought they’re fantastic. They stuck to the game plan, they are leaders on the bench. Their performance tonight was testament to how well they’ve worked all week and in practice.”
Nelson took yet another penalty, a bench minor, to start the third. That gave the team its fifth straight penalty to kill, which it did thanks to some nice work in net by Soneff.
Castlegar got on the board with its own short-handed goal. Soneff failed to cover the puck at his post then appeared to be bumped out of position by his own player. He was behind his own net when Arsenault calmly completed a wraparound.
Leafs defenceman Tyler Seminoff made a nice play after Soneff lost his stick while the Rebels were pressuring. Seminoff handed Soneff his own stick, skated to the boards and disrupted the play with just his skates. He then grabbed a spare stick from the bench and helped the Leafs get a stoppage that ended with Soneff and his shiny, very thin stick, making a save.
But Castlegar scored again moments later on another poor defensive play. A bad turnover caught Soneff out of position and Ferrise scored to halve the Leafs’ lead.
The Rebels took a penalty with just under three minutes left. Lawczynski made two saves with a scrum in front of his net but couldn’t stop Ramsay batting in one final goal to secure Nelson’s win and playoff position.
Leaflets: If it felt like a playoff crowd in the stands, that’s probably because attendance was 1,239. … The Nelson Leafs finish the regular season on the road Saturday against the Beaver Valley Nitehawks. … Finishing fourth in the division means Castlegar must play Beaver Valley in the first round. The Nitehawks have been an absolute terror this season, and as of Friday had the league’s third-best record. … The nets at both ends of the ice came off their moorings multiple times throughout the game. Maybe those could get fixed before the playoffs?