It was a hard fought game in game two of the first round Chinook Hockey League playoff series between the Innisfail Eagles and Fort Saskatchewan Chiefs.
And it looked like the Birds would still manage to steal one on the road at Fort Saskatchewan's Jubilee Recreation Centre to take a 2-0 lead in the series but it wasn't to be. This time it was the Chiefs who dug deep to find an extra gear, scoring two second half third period goals to claim a 5-4 win. In doing so, the opening round series is now tied at one game each.
The Eagles opened the scoring at 13:06 of the first period on a goal by Travis Dunstall. Kevin Smyth, who was chosen the star of the game for Innisfail, assisted on the play.
But the Chiefs would tie game on a power play with 53 seconds remaining in the opening frame. Brian Woolger scored for the Chiefs with Douglas Auchenberg and Ryan Smith assisting.
At 16:47 in the second period the Birds' Mike Sullivan, on another assist from Smyth, made it 2-1 Innisfail. But the Chiefs came right back at 13:20 on a goal from Steele Boomer. It was tied 2-2.
And then in the final minute of play the Eagles went ahead 3-2 when Shawn Bates scored with 42 seconds remaining. Wyatt Hamilton and Tylor Keller collected assists.
The back and forth game continued in the final frame with the Chiefs' Jamie Marshall evening up the game 3-3 at 14:47.
But captain Tylor Keller put the Eagles up again at 11:01 on an another assist from Hamilton. With nine minutes left in the game the Birds led 4-3 but the Chiefs would not be denied.
Ryan Smith tied the game up at 8:16 and then Auchenberg, who would be chosen the Chiefs' star of the game, put Fort Saskatchewan in the lead for good with the game-winning goal at 4:42.
The Chiefs held on for a hard earned 5-4 victory to take game two of the series.
The Eagles narrowly outshot the Chiefs 43-40 in the game. The series now goes back to Innisfail this Friday night (Feb. 21) for game three.
