Team Minny comes up big heading into final day.
Warroad's Daimon Gardner celebrates after his slap shot goal in the second period.
The BC Canucks had three games to play in the Brick headed into their matinee versus Team MN. With three wins in two days, they realistically could play their way into the Final 6. Their first order of business was to knock off the boys from Minnesota, who also controlled their own destiny by winning their last two games, too. With six points, Team MN by virtue of a Sask Jr Pats win over the Jr. Bruins knew if they beat BC and then Boston on Friday they would qualify for Bracket Play. Something had to give.
Speaking of Minnesota kids, Daimon Gardner got the scoring started for BC with a wicked slap shot on the Power Play in the second period. The Canucks led 1-0 after two. Shots on goal were even the entire game (13-13 after two).
The game would come down to who wants it more. Both teams fighting for their lives had more than just their opponent to deal with as the game wore on. The ice surface looked more like slush hampering all parties involved to move the puck cleanly.
Aaron Schwartz got Minnesota on the board within the first two minutes to tie the game at 1. That is when Gavin Lindberg would put on his Hero Cape. With just over six minutes left in the game, Lindberg got a loose puck in front of the net and buried on the backhand to give MN the lead and their hope for Bracket Play was alive. A minute later, while buzzing the BC net for an insurance goal, BC's Brian Robertson pulled down a streaking Jimmy Clark to give TM a late PP. They did not convert, but it allowed Minnesota two more minutes to milk some time of the clock. With under a minute to go Gavyn Brindley got called for a offensive zone hook and BC played the rest of the game on the PP. Minnesota was able to gain control and clear the puck to the neutral zone where Lindberg quickly iced the puck toward the BC net, the puck found the net and the fans from Minnesota went crazy.
Forty Eight hours after losing 10-1 to the Toronto Bulldogs, Team Minnesota found themselves one win away from entering the Final Six. An amazing feat considering how tough Division 1 was stacked this Summer.
