Wolverines playoffs hopes dashed as they fall on road to Neepawa

The Wayway Wolverines were officially eliminated from playoff contention on Wednesday night as they fell 5-3 on the road to the Neepawa Natives.

The home side would open the scoring very early in the 1st period and it would be the only offence of the opening frame as Reigan Buchanan would go in on a partial 2 on 1 and then go short-side shelf on McKenzie Chalmers for his 14th of the season to give Neepawa a 1-0 lead after 20 minutes with shots 10-8 Wolverines.

Quinton Cubbon would draw the Wolverines even 9:38 into the middle frame as he would bat home his 6th of the season out of mid-air to make it 1-1 game. Then just 2:38 later, the Wolverines would grab their first lead as Riley Martin would jam home his 8th of the year to make it 2-1. But the home squad would get 2 late goals one by Nolan Richards (15th) and a power play goal from Reigan Buchanan, his 2nd of the night & 15th of the campaign to regain Neepawa their lead at 3-2 after 40 minutes with shots at 22-18 Neepawa after 2 periods.

Cubbon would add his 2nd of the night just 1:09 into the 3rd period as he would poke it past Tyler Gutenberg for his 7th to make it 3-3. But just 5:40 later, Reigan Buchanan would complete the hat-trick top-shelf for his 16th to make it 4-3 Neepawa. They would then ice it into the empty net with just over a minute to go as Nolan Richards would cap a 4 point night with his 16th to help the home side to the 2 goal win.

Tyler Gutenberg earned his 11th win of the season making 30 saves on 33 shots while McKenzie Chalmers made 27 saves in a losing cause.

With the win, Neepawa is now just 1 point back of Swan for the final playoff spot. Neepawa is back at it on Friday hosting the Portage Terriers while the Wolverines are back at it on Sunday when they host the Steinbach Pistons.