The Nelson Leafs made up for a lacklustre start to their KIJHL playoff opener with a thrilling 5-4 triple overtime victory against Beaver Valley Saturday to tie their series at one game apiece.
Rayce Miller scored unassisted 13:11 into the third extra frame to seal the victory for the Leafs.
Beaver Valley opened the scoring in the first, but the Leafs quickly tied it up and then took the lead on goals from Tyler Fyfe and Michael Crawford. The Nitehawks got one back before Crawford scored his second of the period to make it 3-2 for the Leafs.
Crawford completed his hat trick early in the second to make it 4-2.
Beaver Valley scored twice in the third — including the tying goal with a minute and a half left — to send the game to overtime. Nelson had an opportunity to finish the Nitehawks off when Reid Anderson was assessed a delay of game penalty, but failed to score. Beaver Valley also failed to score on a power play during the second overtime after Matt MacDonald went off for high-sticking.
In addition to his winning goal, Miller had two assists.
Jason Malhoit made 54 saves in net for the Leafs while Drake Poirier and Carson Schamerhorn combined for 40 stops for the Nitehawks.
The series shifts to Nelson for games three and four on Monday and Tuesday. On Friday, the Leafs fell 5-0 to Beaver Valley.
In the other Neil Murdoch division series, Spokane beat Castlegar 6-3 last night to tie that series at one.
(CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that the Leafs won in double overtime.)