A five-point night from Matt Ius helped the Langley Chiefs stave off elimination in game five.
Ius scored twice and set up three other goals as the Chiefs downed the Surrey Eagles 7-5 on Sunday afternoon at the South Surrey Arena.
The win cuts the Eagles series lead to 3-2 as game six shifts to Langley tonight (Monday) at the Langley Events Centre. Puck drop is 7 p.m.
The Chiefs were facing elimination after losing 3-2 in double overtime on Friday night in game four.
In that game, Surrey's Richard Vanderhoek gave the Eagles a 2-0 lead — the Langley Minor Hockey Association product is tied for the BCHL goal scoring lead with 10 goals — before Brandon Thompson and Brad McBride responded for the Chiefs.
Jeff Vanderlugt played the role of OT hero, scoring 8:13 into the second overtime period on an unassisted marker.
But in Sunday's game, the Chiefs got goals from Kit Sitterley and Ius less than a minute apart to lead 2-0 after one period. This marked the first time all series that Langley scored first.
The second period saw an offensive explosion as the teams combined for six goals, including four in a span of 2:27.
Sitterley made it 3-0 before Brandon Morley got the Eagles on the board. And after Ryan Bakken made it 4-1, Daniel Gentzler cut the lead in half.
The teams each scored once more, Tim Daly, on a power play for the Chiefs, and Tim Coish to round out the wild middle period.
The third period saw four more goals, with both teams striking twice.
Trevor Gerling made it 6-3 with a power play goal, but Steve Koshey got that back on a short-handed tally.
And then with just over minutes remaining, Scott Holm pulled the Eagles to within a goal, at 6-5.
But with less than a minute to go, Ius iced the victory with an empty-net goal.
Ius now leads all players with 19 points in the post-season.
The Chiefs won despite being outshot 45-30.
There penalty kill also came up big as for the first time all series, Surrey failed to score with the man advantage, going 0-for-4. Conversely, the Chiefs went 2-for-4.
Another key to the victory was Langley shutting down Surrey's dynamic duo of Vanderhoek and fellow LMHA alum Brad McGowan.
The pair was held off the scoresheet for the first time all series.
Despite the goose egg, McGowan (six goals, 12 assists) sits just a point back of Ius for the BCHL playoff scoring lead.