Kris Hodge scored the game-winner in the second period and goaltender Matthew Jenkins made 45 saves in a first-star performance as the Conception Bay Blues forced a seventh game in their Newfoundland senior hockey divisional semifinal with the Southern Shore Puglisevich Breakers with a 2-1 win Wednesday night.
In front of a big crowd at the Southern Shore Arena in Mobile, Hodge also assisted on Kyle Tibbo’s tally for the Blues, who will be on home ice at the C.B.S. Arena for the the deciding game at 8 p.m. Friday.
Matthew Oates had the lone goal for the Breakers, who got 21 saves from netminder Mark Yetman.
Friday’s winner will meet the defending Herder Memorial Trophy provincial senior champion Clarenville Ford Caribous in the Eastern Division final. The Caribous swept the St. John’s Caps 4-0 in their East semifinal.
Whichever team emerges from the east will face either the Grand Falls-Windsor Cataracts or Gander Kelly Ford Flyers in the provincial Herder championship series. The Cataracts lead the best-of-seven Central Division final 3-1 heading into Game 5 Friday night at the Steele Community Centre in Gander.
