With a win at home on Wednesday to open the best of seven, followed by another Friday night win in Swan Valley, the Blues are up two games to none heading into Sunday’s matchup.
Wednesday’s game didn’t start so well as the visiting Stampeders held a 2-0 lead after one period. The Blues fought back in the second and got to within one as Jackson Keane scored on the powerplay seven minutes in. Browning tied it up three minutes later with a shot from the point that made it through traffic to leave the game tied at two after two.
A minute into the third, Bilton scored on a very nice individual effort, powering around the Swan Valley defenceman. Four minutes later it was Rafter cleaning up in front of the opposing net to give the Blues a two goal lead. Midway through the third the Stampeders were able to draw within one but a late too many men on the ice penalty was all the Blues needed to close out the game. With Nault’s empty netter, it was a 5-3 game one victory for the Blues.
Friday night in Swan Valley, the first period was scoreless and when the only goal scored in the second was by the home crowd, the Blues needed some magic in the third. Jackson Keane was able to tie it up 3:45 in and two and a half minutes later it was Brooks giving the Blues their first lead of the evening. The Stampeders had their chances but it wasn’t until Rafter’s empty netter in the final seconds that the Blues were able to celebrate the victory and a 2-0 series lead.
Game notes: Wednesday’s Boston Pizza Blues player of the game went to Garret Browning with the OMG hardest working player award to Maverick Rafter.