The Castlegar Rebels remained one point up on Grand Forks for the fourth and final spot in the KIJHL’s Neil Murdoch Division playoff race heading into a match Tuesday.
Playing on the road, the Rebels beat Osoyoos 5-4 Friday and fell 4-1 in Spokane on Sunday.
Mason Hartman opened the scoring for Castlegar on the power play in the first period. Osoyoos tied it on another power play marker before Colbia Winia gave Castlegar a 2-1 lead at the intermission.
The Rebels then built a 5-1 lead on three straight power play goals in the second, including two from Griffen Ryden and one from Matthew Pfeffer.
Osoyoos got a late goal to make it 5-2 after two periods and mounted a comeback in the third, scoring twice, including once shorthanded to pull within one goal, but the Rebels held on to win.
Josh Wiens finished with three assists while Hartman had an assist to go with his goal.
Ethan Lawczynski made 29 saves in net for the Rebels, who outshot Osoyoos 39-33.
On Sunday, following a scoreless first period, Spokane went up 2-0 in the second.
Cortez Favot replied for the Rebels to narrow the gap, but Braiden Sparkes scored again for Spokane to make it 3-1 after two and capped the game with another late goal in the third.
Dawson Rattai made 35 saves. Castlegar held a 42-39 edge in shots.
Castlegar was due to play Beaver Valley on Tuesday, after the News’ deadline. They return home on Friday to host Nelson at 7 p.m.
Beaver Valley and Nelson have both clinched playoff spots. Castlegar (11-21-0-6) has three games in hand on the Grand Forks Border Bruins in the race for the final postseason berth.