The Battleford Beaver Blues used a five-goal second period to down the Spiritwood Timberwolves 10-5 in game three of their best-of-five SPHL playoff series.
With the win, Battleford swept the first round series.
The Beaver Blues started the game with a parade to the penalty box. They took three minor penalties in the first five minutes. Spiritwood was unable to capitalize with the man advantage.
The Timberwolves opened the scoring eight minutes into the game. Raymond Witchekan beat the Beaver Blues defence, cut across the crease in front of Battleford goaltender Mitch Hawtin and slid it through his pads.
They extended their lead less than a minute later. Spiritwood defenceman Tyler Gamble pounced on a turnover. His heavy slap shot from the top of the faceoff circle beat Hawtin in the top half of the net.
Battleford got on the board with 7:20 to play in the first. Scott Maunula's pass was blocked and the puck bounced to Roddy Hoffman, who put a shot on net. Timberwolves goaltender Jason Sawatsky made the save. The rebound bounced right to Maunula who buried the puck into the open net.
Spiritwood restored their two-goal lead with a power play goal. Raymon Harris beat Hawtin through a screen to put the Timberwolves up 3-1 with 3:23 left in the first.
The two-goal lead did not last long. Battleford made it a 3-2 game 11 seconds later. A Hoffman pass from the right wing found Brett Michnik streaking down the centre of the Timberwolves' zone. Michnik deked around the goalie and put the puck - and himself - into the back of the net.
It was a slow start to the second period. Hoffman got the scoring going and tied the game for the Beaver Blues with 12:05 remaining. It was a quick shot off a faceoff that beat Sawatsky as he was unable to get his pad to the post in time.
Sixteen seconds after the goal, Timberwolves defenceman Wayne Jim took a roughing after the whistle penalty. On the ensuing power play, Maunula scored his second of the game. Jon Kachur's slap pass from the left point found Maunula on the right side of the net. Maunula redirected the puck past Sawatsky to give Battleford a 4-3 lead.
Battleford started to pull away with a shorthanded goal with 8:56 to play in the second. Brent Salzl had a breakaway from behind the red line. He moved in on Sawatsky, deked from his forehand to his backhand and snapped it past the Timberwolves goaltender.
Two minutes later, the Beaver Blues extended their lead to three. Michnik and Blaine Weber had a two-on-one. Michnik saucered the pass over the Spiritwood defender's stick. Weber picked his spot and beat Sawatsky to put Battleford up 6-3.
Battleford's fifth goal of the period came with 6:09 left. Maunula took an innocent shot from the left wing. Sawatsky was in position, but the puck seemed to go right through his trapper and trickle into the back of the net.
With the score 7-3, frustration started to boil over for the Timberwolves. Weber and Witchekan collided in the neutral zone and agreed to fight. After Witchekan shook off his elbow pads, he hit Weber with a couple of left hooks to knock his opponent down. Weber turtled to end the fight, but Witchekan kept punching. The referees and linesman tried to get Witchekan off Weber, but the Spiritwood forward pushed a referee away.
After the referees were able to separate the two players, Witchekan received a five-minute major for fighting, a game misconduct, a gross misconduct and an extra two-minutes for being the aggressor.
Spiritwood cut the lead to three early in the third period. Shane Gopher scored on the power play 1:24 into the third to make the score 7-4.
The Beaver Blues responded with three straight goals to end any doubt of the outcome. Salzl and Michnik scored midway through the period. The Timberwolves pulled Sawatsky, but back-up goaltender Luke Anderson did not make a difference. Mike Nelson added Battleford's 10th goal shortly after Anderson entered the game.
Gopher added his second of the game with 5:57 remaining to conclude the scoring in the game.
The Beaver Blues now wait to see who their opponent will be in the semifinal round of the playoffs.
