The Cranbrook Bucks live to fight another day.
The Bucks fended off elimination in a must-win game five versus the Wenatchee Wild Friday, rallying for a 4-2 win and forcing a game six in the process.
Cranbrook came into game five trailing the first round series 3-1, and they were looking for a strong start in the first period to gain some early momentum. The Bucks were able to get the jump start they were looking for when Kellan Hjartarson converted on a scramble near the Wild crease at 3:07 to put the home team in a 1-0 lead. Wenatchee was able to pull even in the dying minutes when Parker Murray netted his 11th goal of the series, sending the game into intermission at a 1-1 tie.
The Bucks dominated through the second period, but Wild goalie Andy Vlaha ensured his club stayed in contention. Cranbrook fired 17 shots through the middle frame, only a Cooper Boulanger breakaway at 16:55 was good enough to beat Vlaha. The Bucks led 2-1 after forty minutes.
Wenatchee tied the game early in the third period, Garrett Szydlowski tallied on an odd-man rush just fifty-four seconds into the final frame to tie the game 2-2. The Bucks were able to retake the lead at 8:27 thanks to a Bauer Morrissey point shot into a crowd, making the score 3-2. An empty net goal from Boulganger in the final minute secured a 4-2 win for the Bucks, and cut Wenatchee’s lead to 3-2 in the best-of-seven first round series.
Game six is set for Sunday in Wenatchee, the Bucks must win to force the series to move to a seventh and deciding game.
Buck Tracks:
- 2 goals for Cooper Boulanger, 3 goals through the series.
- Bauer Morrissey tallies his 1st goal of the series.
- Bucks outshot Wenatchee 40-29 in game five.
Lead photo by Trevor Crawley
