Music: {allcanada} WHL: EAKIN SHINES AS ICE TAKE 3-1 SERIES LEAD OVER WARRIORS

Saturday, April 2, 2011

{allcanada} WHL: EAKIN SHINES AS ICE TAKE 3-1 SERIES LEAD OVER WARRIORS

Chocolate Covered Fruits and More Gifts at Chocolate.com

CRANBROOK, B.C. -- Cody Eakin scored a goal and added an assist as the Kootenay Ice beat the Moose Jaw Warriors 3-1 in Western Hockey League playoff action Friday night.

Kootenay leads the first round series 3-2 with Game 6 going Sunday in Moose Jaw.

Joe Antilla and Max Reinhart also scored for Kootenay.

Quinton Howden replied for Moose Jaw.

Nathan Lieuwen turned away 26 shots for the Ice. Thomas Heemskerk had a good night in goal for the Warriors making 46 saves in a losing effort.

For the first time in the series there was no scoring in the opening period, although Warriors forward Dylan Hood had the best chance when he was awarded a penalty shot but hit the post.

Kootenay finally broke the deadlock with 1:29 left in the second period when Reinhart scored on a power play with a slapshot from the point.

Eakin scored on a shot from the slot to double Kootenay's lead with 5:56 left in the game.

But Howden got the Warriors on the board with the teams playing four-on-four when he finished off a pretty three-way passing play for his fourth of the playoffs.

Joe Antilla sealed the win for Kootenay with an empty-netter with 36 seconds left.