Devin Allen made 35 saves as the Nelson Leafs shut out the Braves 2-0 in Spokane on Friday.
Colum McGauley and Dale Howell each scored for the Leafs (20-21-5), who stayed alive in the hunt for third place.
Nelson was helped out by the Castlegar Rebels thrashing the Grand Forks Border Bruins 7-1 on the same night.
That result leaves the Border Bruins just one point ahead of the Leafs with a single regular season game to play. Nelson can secure third place with a regulation win in Grand Forks on Saturday night.