Losing streak jumps to six as Rebels edge Leafs 4-2
By The Nelson Daily Sports
There was a different team with the game played at a different site, but the result was the same.
The Nelson Leafs lost for the sixth consecutive time Thursday night in the Sunflower City, falling to the Castlegar Rebels 4-2 in Kootenay International Junior Hockey League action.
The loss drops the Leafs into a third-place tie with the Rebels, which have won four straight after struggling out of the starting gates this season.
During the losing skid Nelson has struggled to score goals, despite out shooting the opposition on many occasions. The Leafs currently sit sixth overall in goals scored in the KIJHL.
Thursday against the West Kootenay rivals, Nelson out shot the Rebels 21-7 in the opening frame, but trailed 2-1 on the scoreboard at the period intermission.
Logan Styler, 19 seconds into the game, and Everett Hicks, near the conclusion of the period sandwiched goals around a marker by Leafs Jordan Unger to give the hometown squad the early lead.
After a scoreless second period, Brandon Costa increased the margin to 3-1 in the third.
Mason Mullaney cut the lead to 3-2 with a goal four minutes remaining in the period.
But any comeback was halted when Chance Szott scored into an empty net for Castlegar.
Nelson out shot the Rebels 47-28 but had trouble beating Castlegar game star Jason Mailhiot in the opposition nets.
Devin Allen, falling to 3-5 on the season, was in goal for Nelson.
In contrast while Nelson continues to struggle, the rest of the Murdoch Division keeps on winning, including the next opponent, the Spokane Braves.
The two Murdoch rivals hook up Sunday in the Lilac City with the Braves currently only eight points back of the Leafs.
Next home game for Nelson is Saturday, November 26 against the Grand Forks Border Bruins.
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