Nelson goaltender Caiden Kreitz made 54 saves but Leafs still fell 2-0 to the Braves in Spokane on Friday.
The Leafs lead the Neil Murdoch division semifinal 2-1. The loss guarantees Nelson will play at home Monday night.
It was a goaltenders duel for the third straight game as Kreitz and Spokane’s Campbell Arnold, who finished with 39 saves for the shutout, stole the spotlight.
Marcel Epkey scored a power-play goal in the second period and Bear Hughes added an empty-net goal to give Spokane its first win of the series.
Game 4 is Saturday night in Spokane.
