The London Nationals are on the brink of a sweep, but not the favourable side of it.
The Nationals dropped Game 3 of the Sutherland Cup Finals Sunday night 4-1 on the road to the Elmira Sugar Kings, who now take a commanding 3-0 lead on the Nationals in the best-of-seven finals series. Game 4 is Wednesday night at Elmira.
The Nationals did take an early lead but they were unable to hold or expand on it, as the Sugar Kings scored four unanswered goals to put a stranglehold on the series.
Austin Kemp scored on the power play to put London on the board, his 13th goal of the playoffs. The score was 1-0 London after one period of play, and the Nationals had two other power play chances in the frame.
The Sugar Kings turned on the heat in the second period with four straight goals. Quinten Bruce's unassisted goal at 3:54 tied the game up. Klayton Hoelscher's power play goal became the game-winner for Elmira. Ethan Skinner put in a short-handed insurance goal at 9:46, and Mitch Hoelscher extended the Elmira lead later in the period.
There was no scoring in the third period, but the Nationals were short-handed three times and on the power play once in the final 20.
Jonathan Reinhart saved 28 out of 29 shots in goal for the Sugar Kings. Cameron Zanussi had 32 saves in London's losing effort.
The Nationals will look to extend their season Wednesday at the Dan Snyder Memorial Rink. Puck drop is 7:30pm.
