The Tunnel rivalry will continue for at least one more game.
On Thursday night, staring a four-game sweep square in the face, the Richmond Sockeyes opened a 4-0 lead and held on for a 4-2 win over the Delta Ice Hawks to win game four and force at least a fifth game in the Tom Shaw Conference final series.
Delta’s goals came from Jonathan Soares with his first of the playoffs and Nicholas Goyer with his sixth of the playoffs late in the third period.
Max Shin scored a pair, while Bryce Strandt and Alex Kielmann added singles for Richmond.
Game five is Saturday night at 8 p.m. at Sungod Arena in North Delta.
Game six, if necessary, would-be Sunday night back in Richmond set for a 5:45 p.m. puck-drop. A potential game seven would be held in Ladner on Tuesday night at 7:35 p.m.
Game three of the series was a double overtime thriller won 3-2 by Delta in Ladner on Tuesday, March 11.
Grady Lenton scored his 11th and 12th goals of the playoffs in the first period.
Richmond’s Nathan Gray scored twice in the second to tie the game which remained tied until Mateo Sjoberg, with his sixth of the playoffs, playing the double overtime hero.
Lenton picked up one assist for a three-point night.
Sjoberg also assisted on one of Lenton’s goals.
Merik Erickson picked up the win in net stopping 30 of 32 shots.
The Ridge Meadows Flames will be up next for either Delta or Richmond.
The Flames, who won the regular season title, swept the Chilliwack Jets 4-0 in the Harold Brittain Conference final series.
