The Nelson Junior Leafs escaped Invermere with two points after a close call against the Columbia Valley Rockies Sunday afternoon.
In their third game of an East Kootenay road trip, the Leafs fell behind 1-0 to the Eddie Mountain Division cellar dwellers. Despite outshooting their hosts 13-8 in the opening 20 minutes, it was the Rockies who held the lead at the first intermission.
The second period was all Nelson with both the offence and goaltender Brett Soles ensuring the advantage.
With seven minutes gone in the period, Greg Nickel tied the score on the powerplay. One minute later Dallon Stoddart gave the Leafs the 2-0 lead when he also registered with a Rockies player in the penalty box. With five minutes remaining in the middle stanza, rookie Colton McCarthy gave the Leafs a two-goal cushion with his 17th goal of the season.
The Leafs clung onto the lead for most of the third period, but with six minutes remaining Jake Fardoe beat Soles to get the home side within striking distance. Then with 16 seconds left in the game and the Columbia Valley net empty, Nic Hoobanoff sent the game into overtime.
Playing their second overtime in game in as many days — Nelson lost 3-2 to Golden the night before — captain Colton Schell scored on the powerplay with three seconds left in extra frame win the game for the Leafs.
The Leafs return home Saturday night to take on the Spokane Braves.