With Creston on the ropes, the Thunder Cats made a pushback in Game 5 on Thursday night, winning 4-2 on home ice to hold off the Nitros for at least another day.
The Dynamiters still lead the series 3-2 and have a chance to close it out on home ice on Friday night at the Civic Centre in Kimberley.
Tied after two periods, the Thunder Cats were able to surge ahead in the final frame, scoring twice—one with an empty net—to pick up the win.
Though Kimberley has lit up both Creston goaltenders over the series, Kyle Michalovsky picked up the win with 30 saves, while Nitros netminder Tyson Brouwer turned away 28 shots in defeat.
Kimberley got outshot in the first period, but responded to take the edge in offensive chances over the following two frames. Both teams ended the contest even at 32 shots.
The Thunder Cats scored the one goal of the first period, with Jesse Collins putting Creston in the lead with 3:59 left on the scoreboard.
Bryce Nielsen responded early in the second period to tie up the game, and AP player Jesse Wallace put Kimberley in the lead five minutes later.
But it would not last, as Trevor Hanna knotted the game back up again for Creston late in the frame.
The two teams went to war in the final 20 minutes to gain the edge, and it was Colton St. John for the Thunder Cats who pulled his team ahead just before the halfway mark of the frame.
Collins sealed it up for the T-Cats with an empty net goal with 65 seconds remaining in the game.
Kimberley was scoreless in three chances with the man-advantage, while Creston was denied on both their two opportunities on the powerplay.
Tyler Garcia sat for his second of a two-game suspension for accumulated checking to the head minors. He will be eligible to return on Friday night’s home game.
Even if the series goes to seven games, the Thunder Cats will be missing forward Brandon Formosa for all of it, who sat for his third of a five-game suspension after an incident in Game Two.