Stamps pushed to the brink as they lose 4-1 to Virden in Game 5

The Swan Valley Stampeders will now have to play for their playoff lives as they have been pushed to the brink of elimination as they fell in Game 5 of their Sherwood division semi-final series by falling 4-1 to the Virden Oil Capitals on Monday night.

The Oil Caps came out flying in the 1st period and had some great scoring chances early on but they were denied by Cole Holowenko. Then the Stamps would get pick pocketed at their own blueline by Ben Williams would dish it over to Lucas Oliver for a easy tap in for his 1st goal of the playoffs to give the Oil Caps an early 1-0 lead. Everyone thought we would go into the 1st intermission with Virden out in front but Stamps forward Max Flanagan had other ideas as he would poke it by a flat footed Oil Caps defenceman and go in alone with Adam Iwan and make no mistake for his 2nd goal of the playoffs with just 7 seconds remaining to even it up at 1-1 after 20 minutes.

In the 2nd period, it would once again be the Oil Caps with all the jump and just half way into the 2nd period, they would regain their 1 goal lead as Jordan Greig's long point shot would find its way to the back of the net for his 1st goal of the postseason to make it 2-1. Then with just 1:53 remaining in the middle frame Virden would once again go to the PP, and this time it would be Arty Kalashnikov throwing one in front that would go off a Stamp in front and through the wickets of Holowenko for his 2nd goal of the playoffs to make it 3-1 through 2 periods of play.

The Stamps/Oil Caps would play a more even third period with Stamps coming back with more pressure and chances as they would try and cut into the Virden lead, but they were not able to do so as Kalashnikov would ice it into the empty net with just under 2 minutes remaining for his 2nd of the night and 4th of the playoffs to give the Oil Caps a 4-1 Game 5 win.

Adam Iwan, who is finding his groove in goal stopped 31 Stamps' shot for his 3rd straight victory in goal, while Cole Holowenko who was once again his solid self turned aside 34 shots in a losing cause.

The Oil Caps will try and wrap things up while the Stamps look to keep their playoff hopes alive as they host Game 6 of this series on Wednesday night at 7:30 MB time from the Centennial Arena.