The Stonewall Jets face an uphill battle in their Manitoba Major Junior Hockey League playoff series after the River East Royal Knights captured the first two games of the best-of-seven matchup.
River East opened the series with a 6–3 victory on March 13 at Stonewall Veterans Memorial Arena.
The Jets struck first early in the opening period when Peyton Bateman scored at 4:42, finishing a play set up by Alex Kaczorowski.
River East responded quickly, however, with Graham Maslow tying the game on the power play just over two minutes later. Nolan Fielding gave the visitors their first lead late in the period with assists from Karsten Woloshen and Lian Hanzmann.
The Royal Knights extended their advantage in the second period when Branden Watson scored at 4:46. Evan Deprez pulled Stonewall back within one midway through the frame, converting a pass from Kai Smith and Kaczorowski.
Maslow restored River East’s two-goal lead late in the second period, scoring his second of the night with help from Kalen Reynolds and Kaiden Dela Cruz.
Brody Stovin brought the Jets within one early in the third period, but Fielding added a power-play marker for River East before Maslow completed the hat trick with an empty-net goal in the final seconds.
Spencer Hunnam made 28 saves on 33 shots in the Stonewall net, while River East goaltender Kyle Beilman stopped 28 of 31 shots.
Game 2 on March 15 at Terry Sawchuk Arena was a tighter contest, but the Royal Knights again came away with the win, edging the Jets 4–3.
Maslow opened the scoring on the power play midway through the first period, and Layne Richardson doubled the River East lead late in the frame.
Stonewall responded with a strong second period. Bateman scored his second goal of the series at 5:53, assisted by Cohen Cheung and Kale Chipman. Gavin Holod then tied the game with a power-play goal less than two minutes later, with assists from Brody Stovin and captain Karson King.
The Jets briefly grabbed the lead early in the third period when King scored at 13:02 with help from Austin Lourenco and Stovin.
River East answered quickly. Reynolds tied the game just 39 seconds later before Watson scored the eventual winner moments after that, giving the Royal Knights a 4–3 victory.
Hunnam turned aside 37 of 41 shots in Game 2, while Beilman made 27 saves on 30 shots.
The series now shifts back to Stonewall for Game 3 on March 17, where the Jets will look to claw their way back into the matchup. Game 4 is scheduled for March 20 in River East, with additional games set for March 23, March 25 and March 27 if needed.
