They needed 50 shots, but the Castlegar Rebels found a way to solve 16-year-old Jeremy Muosseau and the Kimberley Dynamiters Friday night.
Anthony DeLong’s go-ahead power-play goal midway through the second period lifted Castlegar out of a 2-2 tie as they fired their way to a 5-3 victory at the Kimberley Civic Centre.
DeLong enjoyed a multi-point night, as did defenceman Tyler Jones and forward Ryan Aynsley, who has been mired in a slump since returning to the KIJHL from the Trail Smoke Eaters.
Cole Buckley foiled his former team as the Rebels maintained their 13-point advantage over Beaver Valley in the Neil Murdoch division.
Muosseau, a 16-year-old callup making only his fourth appearance of the season for his hometown team, stymied Rebel shooters all evening long, and was named the game’s first star.
Castlegar could clinch the regular-season division title tomorrow night with a victory Saturday over Princeton, combined with a Nitehawks loss in Nelson.
The team will wrap up the weekend Sunday afternoon in a possible playoff preview when they visit the Spokane Braves.