Metros back in IJHL final
Jordan Birt scores winner in 4-3 road victory over Red Wings
It’s a series.
The A&S Scrap Metal Metros pulled out a 4-3 road win over the Arsenault’s Fish Mart Western Red Wings on Friday night. The Metros win cuts the Red Wings lead in the best-of-seven Island Junior Hockey League championship series to 2-1. The Metros will have a chance to even the series on home ice at the Cody Banks Arena in Charlottetown when they host Game 4 on Sunday at 7:30 p.m.
The Metros victory on Friday also guarantees a fifth game will be played in Abram-Village on Tuesday, also a 7:30 p.m. start.
Friday at the Evangeline Recreation Centre, the Metros, who never trailed in the contest, jumped out to 2-0 lead after the first period. The Metros extended the lead to 3-0 before the two-minute mark of the second period, but the Red Wings answered back with two goals to make it a one-goal game with 7:45 to go in the second period. The Metros responded with a goal to enter the third up by a pair.
Affiliated player Nick Reeves scored his second goal of the night with 3:02 remaining in regulation to bring the Red Wings to within one goal.
Four different players – Pat McGuigan, Tanner Lund, Taylor Runighan and Jordan Birt – dented the twine for the Metros, who scored their final two goals with the man advantage. Birt’s power-play marker at 17:37 of the second period gave the Metros a 4-2 lead, and stood up as the game-winner. Logan Toole (2), Cody McPhee, Grant Koughan, Nick Currie and Connor Gray chipped in with assists.
Chasse Gallant netted the other Red Wings goals while single helpers were credited to Isaac Knox, Calvin McRae, Braeden Stewart and Jason Gallant.
Sam Walsh turned aside 43 of 46 shots in earning the victory. Luke Oliver made 28 saves while playing the first two periods for the Red Wings. Bronson Banks started the third period and stopped all eight shots directed his way.
The Red Wings opened the series with a 4-0 victory on home ice Tuesday, and prevailed 4-3 in Game 2 at the Cody Banks Arena on Thursday night.