Joel Vanderlaan
@jovanderlaan
The Brampton Steelheads kept their playoff run alive with a 6-3 win over the Oshawa Generals on Friday night at the Tribute Communities Centre.
The Steelheads faced early adversity as NHL Draft eligible starting goaltender Jack Ivankovic left the game with discomfort before the ten-minute mark of the first period.
19-year-old netminder Brayden Gillespie, who was acquired at the trade deadline from the Guelph Storm, stepped in making 27 saves in the victory.
Brampton was also without overage defenceman Spencer Sova and Dallas Stars prospect Angus MacDonell. Vilmer Alriksson has yet to play in the series, while Generals standout Beckett Sennecke missed the contest as well.
The Steelheads opened the scoring at 5:56 of the first period, with Porter Martone finding the back of the net on the power play. The power forward has now scored in four straight playoff games.
Less than five minutes later, the Generals responded with the man advantage as Andrew Gibson scored his first of the postseason with a hard one-timer to even the score.
In the second stanza, the Steelheads regained the lead when Luke Misa scored to put Brampton back on top. He was named the game's first star with a five-point performance.
Carson Rehkopf then tallied twice, giving the visitors a 4-1 lead heading into the third period. His team-leading sixth goal of the playoffs came with just nine seconds remaining in the second frame.
Oshawa wasn't done yet, Luca Marrelli got the Generals back within two at 7:51 of the third period, and Winnipeg Jets first-rounder Colby Barlow made it a 4-3 game with 3:02 left. Both came goals came on the power play.
Brampton sealed the win with empty-net goals from Mason Zebeski and Konnor Smith, forcing a Game 6 on Sunday afternoon at CAA Centre with Oshawa now leading the best-of-seven first-round series 3-2.
