After losing 5-1 to Sexsmith on Friday night, it was no surprise that the Huskies came to win at home Saturday for Game 3 of the NWJHL playoffs.

Call it redemption or home-ice advantage if you want, but whatever it was, the Huskies reminded the Vipers whose house it was, and took the lead in the series with a 5-2 win.

“I thought we just had a better start,” said Huskies forward Robbie Sidhu. “[Friday] we had a shorter bench, but still, you have to start hard. We started hard [tonight] and then we kept that momentum throughout the whole game.”

With a bench of only nine players to start Friday’s game in Sexsmith, the result was what coach Gary Alexander called “a comedy of all sorts of things,” but Saturday's match at North Peace Arena was a different story.

“It’s very important to jump right back and make sure we had a good, strong period to start with,” Alexander said.

“Certainly having more players on the bench and some key people doing the things they’re supposed to do helped tonight.”

Like in Game 1 against Sexsmith, discipline was an issue for both teams on Saturday. A total of 68 penalty minutes were handed out (including three game misconducts for head checks), 40 to Sexsmith and the rest to Fort St. John.

“It’s a physical game out there,” Alexander said. “[The Vipers] are playing quite physical, so we’ve got to react back, and unfortunately with the check to the heads, when it’s physical, things like that happen. I don’t think they’re deliberate.”

For the Huskies, goals seemed almost as frequent as penalties thanks to their special teams. Dylan Houle opened and closed scoring for the team on the powerplay, while Dave Marshell’s short-handed goal at the end of the first period would be the game winner.

Taylor Greatrex and Tylar Bestward (who had a total of three points) also scored for the Huskies, while at the other end of the ice goalie Travis Mclean kept the Vipers at bay.

Twice the Huskies were down two men as the parade to the penalty box continued, but again, like in Game 1, Mclean stood tall for his team, stopping a total of 30 shots. His rebound control and play under pressure were outstanding for most of the game, making excellent back-to-back saves while his team was shorthanded, and ultimately making all the difference in the final score.

It was undoubtedly a more physical game than the last played at North Peace Arena, but according to Sidhu, that’s to be expected.

“Every time you play in the playoffs, one team has guys out there who [are playing] their last year, so they all want to bring it next game,” he said.

Sidhu, who also had a three-point game on Saturday, was awarded the NWJHL’s MVP before puck drop, presented by league president Al Spence.

“I felt pretty good. I found out like two weeks ago though,” Sidhu said laughing, “I read about it [on Facebook] and I was pretty happy about it.”

“It’s a deserved award,” added coach Alexander. “We fought all year long having a short lineup, and Robbie’s certainly put the effort into it and proved he can play with the best players in the league.”

“You watch him carry the puck and he can go around five players three times before they even come close to him,” Alexander continued, “So that gives us the advantage of penetrating the end zone. Of course everyone’s going to attack him because he’s so elusive and that leaves four people open.”

Despite the pre-game honour and his coach's praise, Sidhu’s mind was on the game, not his award.

“To get [the win] was really big tonight,” he said.

“They don’t want to lose and we don’t want to lose. It always brings out the best in both teams, but it’s really starting to get heated now.”

The Huskies lead the series 2-1 and will continue their playoff run in Sexmith for Game 4 on Tuesday night.

Come by North Peace Arena on Wednesday, Feb. 22 and support the Huskies as they face the Sexsmith Vipers in Game 5.

Puck drop: 8 p.m.