Home ice continues to play in the Heritage Junior Hockey League Final.
The Carstar Okotoks Bisons overpowered the Sylvan Lake Wranglers at the Murray Arena for the third time in the series to take a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven league final with a 3-0 shutout Friday night.
Grady Nicholas made 23 saves for his second shutout of the playoffs and ninth win in the postseason.
Adam Kirkpatrick opened the scoring after jumping on a loose puck and depositing a backhand rebound with 1:11 left in the first period.
Blueliner Caden Scott notched his second goal in as many games in the middle stanza with Daniel Tainton adding his team-leading ninth playoff marker in the late stages of the period.
To win the series on Saturday in Sylvan Lake, the visitors will have to do what no road team has been able to do through five games.
Okotoks has won its three home games by an 11-4 margin with Sylvan Lake boasting an impressive 10-3 margin in its two home triumphs.
Game 6 is an 8 p.m. start on March 30. If the series is pushed to the end, Game 7 is March 31 at 6 p.m. at Okotoks’ Murray Arena.
For more information, go to okotoksbisons.com.
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