The Cranbrook Bucks are down and looking up in their first-round playoff series with the Wenatchee Wild following Tuesday’s overtime loss in an entertaining game three.
The Wild got the ball rolling just over three-minutes into the game thanks to Parker Murray’s third goal of the series, sparking what would be a stellar night for the power forward. The Bucks managed to pull into a 1-1 tie from a Nick Peluso goal with just over two-minutes left in the opening frame. The game remained at a 1-1 tie at the first intermission.
Cranbrook took an early 2-1 lead in the second period with a Bryce Sookro goal at the two-minute mark. The Wild followed with a pair of goals from Murray to give him a hattrick in the game while putting his club in a 3-2 lead. Cranbrook briefly tied the game at 15:20 when Kellan Hjartarson potted his first goal of the playoffs. Wenatchee managed to land the last second period strike at 15:58 when Micha Berger scored to give the Wild a 4-3 lead at intermission.
The game shifted to more of a defensive battle in the third period. The Wild had the win within their grasp, but a Donovan Frias goal with nearly a half-minute left in the final frame vaulted the Bucks into a 4-4 tie and spurred overtime.
The extra frame did not last long, Wild forward Parker Murray wired a slapshot on a Wenatchee rush to beat Bucks goalie Nathan Airey for his fourth goal of the night and securing a 5-4 win.
Tuesday’s loss puts Cranbrook in a 2-1 deficit in the first round best-of-seven series. The Bucks have a chance to tie the series in game four Wednesday night in Wenatchee.
Buck Tracks:
- 4 pts for Nick Peluso (1g,3a).
- Kellan Hjartarson nets his first goal of the playoffs.
