The Nipawin Hawks’ margin for error is gone.
The team finds themselves with their season hanging in the balance after losing 2-1 to the Steinbach Pistons in Game 5 from the Anavet Cup.
The May 4 home ice loss pushed the Hawks to the brink of elimination as they trail the Pistons 3-2 with the series shifting back to Steinbach for Games 6 and, if necessary, 7.
It was a particularly tough loss to swallow for the Hawks, who were 20 minutes away from taking their first lead of the series since game one, but saw Steinbach score twice in the third to complete the comeback.
It was the second time in the series that the Hawks blew a 1-0 third period lead.
Jack Johnson and Drew Worrad each scored once for the Pistons, while Tyson McConnell, Austin Heidemann and Darby Gula added the assists for the Pistons in the win.
Matthew Thiessen turned aside 24 of the 25 shots he faced to pick up his third win of the series in the Pistons' goal.
Brandan Arnold responded for the Hawks, scoring his six of the series, as the 20-year-old has points on 11 of the Hawks’ 13 goals in the series.
Logan Casavant and Carter Doerksen added the assists on the Arnold goal, while Declan Hobbs was charged with the loss after surrendering two goals on 36 shots.
The contest got off to an excellent start for the home side, as they took control of the game in the opening 20 minutes, holding a 14-8 edge in shots on goal.
Arnold registered the lone goal of the period, beating Thiessen at 17:05, to put the Hawks in front 1-0 after the first.
After an excellent first period, the Hawks sat back and it cost them as they were outshot 28-11 in the final 40 minutes.
Hobbs was equal to the task in period two turning aside all 17 shots he faced, but the Pistons finally broke through in the third.
Worrad got the party started for the visitors scoring just 3:58 into the third period to knot the score at one.
While time winding down in the third the Pistons struck again, as Johnson scored his first of the series, with 7:38 to play, giving the Pistons their first lead of the hockey game.
Needing a goal to tie, the Hawks failed to muster much in the way of offense as they could not beat Thiessen over the final seven minutes, falling 2-1.
After some penalty filled contests earlier in the series, the two teams got down to hockey in Game 5, as they combined for just three minor penalties and only one power play.
The Pistons failed to score on the game’s lone man advantage.
The Hawks will look to extend their season at least one more day when they return to Steinbach for Game 6 on May 7.
Game 7, should the Hawks win Game 6, would go the following evening in Steinbach.
