Six different Beaver Blues scored as Battleford opened the 2014 SPHL playoffs with a 6-3 win over the Spiritwood Timberwolves Saturday night at the Battleford Arena.
The Beaver Blues opened the scoring early in the first period. Greg Shury beat Timberwolves goaltender Jason Sawatsky with an assist from Scott Maunula 2:55 into the game.
Mitch Phillips extended the lead to two before the end of the first period. He scored with 4:51 remaining from Roddy Hoffman and Brett Michnik.
Battleford made it a 3-0 lead at the beginning of the third period. Jordan Keller found the back of the net less than two minutes into the period from Brent Salzl and Keegan Sparrow.
Spiritwood got on the board 4:44 into the second period. Raymond Witchekan beat Beaver Blues goaltender Mitch Hawtin to cut the lead to two. Starday Bear and Raymon Harris assisted on the goal.
The Beaver Blues restored their three-goal lead midway through the second period. Travis Keller lit the lamp 10:45 into the second with an assist from Todd Heck.
Shane Gopher scored with 5:23 remaining in the period to bring the lead back down to two. It was his first of two goals in the game.
Sparrow iced the game five minutes into the third. He beat Sawatksy to give the Beaver Blues a 5-2 lead with assists from Jordan Keller and Shury.
The two teams exchanged goals in the final minute. Gopher scored his second of the game with 25 seconds left. Heck responded with a goal with 14 seconds remaining in the game.
Battleford leads the best-of-five series 1-0. Game two is Monday night in Spiritwood. Puck drop is 8:30 p.m.
