By Brent Bosker

Mintos still alive at Telus Regionals with win over Moose Jaw

Apr 1, 2011 | 9:46 PM

Needing a win to keep their season alive the Prince Albert Mintos delivered in the clutch with a hard fought 2-1 victory over the host Moose Jaw Generals.

The (1-1) Mintos moved up from last to second in the tournament standings with the win and control their own destiny going into today’s game (12 p.m.) against the (0-1-1) Thunder Bay Kings.

We executed our game plan to perfection, said Mintos head coach Tim Leonard.

“We formed a checking line. We used Matty Anholt to try and shut down their top centre and they did a bang up job.”

Last change was a key for us, Leonard said.

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P.A. opened the scoring 2:46 into the second period when Jordon Tkatch wired a wrist shot past Moose Jaw’s Matt Gibney from just inside the blue line.

The Generals would pull even six minutes later on the power play. Tyler King took a wrist shot from the side boards and it beat a partially screened Taran Kozan, who made 27 saves on the night and was named the game’s first star.

The Mintos would regain the lead for good late in the period. The Generals turned the puck over behind their net and Brennen Bosovich was able to center the puck for Tad Kozan who chipped it past Gibney to give P.A. a 2-1 lead heading to the third.

In the final frame, the Mintos played arguably their best 20-minutes of the season. They looked possessed, smothering the Generals' attack while out shooting Moose Jaw 18-6.

“It was a great period of hockey our guys played the (system) to a tee. I thought there was no errors everybody did their job, said Leonard, who had some motivating words for his players during the second intermission.

“We got fired up for that third period.”

“I told them that the team there playing is in the road of us going to St John’s so we got to go through them and they accepted the challenge.”

We hope to duplicate that period of hockey against Thunder Bay, said Leonard.

The Mintos can earn a rematch with the Winnipeg Thrashers if they first get past the Kings today.

The Thrashers clinched a spot in Sunday’s final with a wild 6-5 win over the Kings. Thunder Bay and Moose Jaw still have a shot at the final but it hinges on a P.A. loss.

Minto boosters:

The Mintos are getting plenty of support in the stands despite being hours away from their home rink. About one hundred Mintos fans have turned the Moose Jaw Civic Centre into a home game with their banners, horns and loud cheers. A dedicated crew of 14 even drove in for Friday nights game only to drive back afterwards.

bbosker@panow.com