Nitro's halt Creston's 13 game win streak with a tie

This was, for me, one of the most entertaining games of the year. The Nitro's held the high octane, fast skating Thunder Cats to four goals for a tie.

I had a lot of personal pride riding on the line when I tweeted before the game:

Alright @CV_Thundercats you can only win so many games in a row. All good things must come to an end. Go Nitros Go!! @nitroshockey
— Josh Lockhart (@joshuaklockhart) February 5, 2014

and the Town of Creston responded to it:

Go Thundercats! MT @joshuaklockhart Alright @CV_Thundercats you can only win so many games in a row. All good things must come to an end.
— Town of Creston (@TownofCreston) February 5, 2014

There was a lot on the line for both teams. Creston Valley had a 13 game win streak at stake, and the Nitro's are battling for home ice advantage for the first round of the playoffs. This game did not fail to entertain, it had everything.

Despite the hard hitting and outshooting Creston Valley in the first, the Thunder Cats rallied behind their fans (and there were many of them at the game) for a 2-0 lead.

The Nitro's continued their fast, energetic pace, as Sibbald, Buckley and Garcia started the 2nd period with force. However, Lefebvre seemed like he was going to be unbeatable. Eventually Sibbald, as always, with his speed, deked around a defender and was able to feed the puck to Klingspohn. Creston sucked the life out of the Dynamiters scoring a minute later. Martin then left the game after blocking a shot, and Busch got crunched in half by Livingstone (I don't understand how such an illegal and injury intending hit didn't earn him a suspension for the game!). Livingstone was the reason the Nitro's came back. He was in the box for 5 for his dirty hit, and the Nitro's scored. When he came out, he dropped the gloves and proceeded to punch Miller's head into the ice (which landed him a game misconduct, finally). The Nitro's scored again, and it was a tie game.

In the 3rd, the two teams traded goals. The game felt like OT for the remaining minutes. And probably a missed attempt that will give Garcia nightmares, because as the seconds ticked down, he tried stuffing in a rebound that went just wide. And I mean JUST wide.

The OT was fast and furious. Mousseau seemed to drop all orthodox butterfly techniques and played like Tim Thomas (when he played well) and Hasek, just diving around the ice, throwing his body at the puck. He was in the zone. But unfortunately, so was Lefebvre. So many close chances, but nothing was buried. Sibbald even got a penalty shot (the birthday boy gifted with a penalty shot in OT to win the game!), but Lefebvre matched him.

This adrenaline filled game ended with a draw. Which ended the Creston Valley Thunder Cats 13 game win streak.

@joshuaklockhart @nitroshockey winning streak, over.. unbeaten streak, STILL ALIVE! #GlassHalfFull
— Creston Thunder Cats (@CV_Thundercats) February 6, 2014

Nitro's Player of the Game was Klingspohn with his hat trick. He has 7 points in his last three games. It also earned him the KIJHL "Who's Hot In The KI" honors.

********Correction, February 11, 2014*********
Busch was actually hit by Colton St. John, as noted in the comment and boxscore. I should have read that closer. However, this does point out more, even though he was later suspended, that a more severe penalty should have been called. I do still stand by my comment though that Livingstone was the reason the Nitro's came back as he was serving a 5-minute penalty when the Nitro's tied the game.