Staff
The Fort Frances Lakers got their wish.
Alex Maticic scored two second-period goals as the host English River Miners rallied from a 4-1 deficit to beat the Minnesota Iron Rangers 6-4 in Game 4 of their first-round best-of-five series last night.
It now comes down to a winner-take-all Game 5 tomorrow night down in Hoyt Lakes, with the Iron Rangers on the verge of losing the series it once led 2-0.
Whoever survives will be somewhat worn down as they enter a best-of-seven semi-final matchup this Friday at 7:30 p.m. at the Ice For Kids Arena against a Lakers’ team that will have had 12 days of rest between games.
The Iron Rangers looked to have the game—and the series—in their pocket last night, scoring two power-play goals in the first 10 minutes.
Then they added a pair of short-handed goals just 59 seconds apart late in the period to go up by three.
But Maticic went to work in the middle stanza, cutting the gap to one by the intermission.
He then helped set up Trevor Perverzoff’s man-advantage equalizer 20 seconds into the third.
Nash Dabb then gave the Miners their first lead at 11:45 before Konnar Dechaine added an insurance marker at 14:27 as English River ended up outshooting the Iron Rangers 45-22.
Ryker Moreau had the other goal for the Miners while Korlan Vader made 18 saves to earn the win.
Eric Madison tallied twice while Keaton Huot and Dawson Mershon had the other goals for Minnesota.
Anthony Pupplo made 39 stops in defeat.
In other junior hockey news, a former Laker so far is getting the better of a Fort Frances native in an MJHL playoff goaltending duel.
Nathan Park turned aside 27 shots to backstop the defending RBC Cup champion Portage Terriers to a 4-0 shutout of the host Winnipeg Blues last night in Game 2 of their best-of-seven semi-final series.
Scott Parsons had 25 stops in the loss.
The Terriers opened the series with a 3-1 triumph Sunday in Portage la Prairie.
Park had 22 stops in that win while Parsons made 23 saves in defeat.
Game 3 of the series goes tomorrow in Portage la Prairie.
