It could have been a demoralizing end to the season, but instead it breathed new life into Cinderwood/Air North team.

With their backs against the wall, the Cinderwood squad avoided elimination with a 6-5 shootout win over Yukon Appliance in the Division A finals of the Whitehorse Rec Hockey League on Monday at Takhini Arena.

The deciding Game 5 will take place Tuesday night at Takhini.

“It’s probably going to be as close as this one,” said Cinderwood forward Jay Glass, who scored the game winner and registered an assist on Monday. “Both teams want to win and it will boil down to who plays the smartest and who gets a few breaks.”

Up 4-1 early in the second (of two) period, Cinderwood dropped the lead allowing four goals in seven-and-a-half minutes, with Appliance’s Aaron Pettitt scoring the lead-off goal with 8:25 to play. Pettitt had a four-point night with three assists.

“We forgot what got us that lead and we started to take chances, not just play simple and get pucks in deep,” said Glass. “All the things we teach our bantams we forgot to do tonight.

“They’ve got a good team. If you give them an inch, they’re going to take a mile.”

Cinderwood goaltender Ian Perrier stopped all three of the Appliance shooters in the shootout, while at the other end of the ice Glass faked a shot and lifted the puck over Brian Currie.

“I see so many guys deking in shootouts and the ice is bad and they lose control of the puck,” said Glass. “So I just wanted to make sure I got a shot and it went in, so that’s good.”

Contact Tom Patrick at tomp@yukon-news.com