The Red River Mudbugs have extended the 2016-2017 Hanover Tache Junior Hockey League season a couple of more days.

Gavin Klassen made 27 saves as Red River defeated Springfield 2-0 Friday night in St. Jean and that cuts the Xtreme's lead in the best-of-seven final to three games to two.

"Gavin has played so great all year and believe it or not this is his first shutout," said Mudbugs captain Josh Neufeld. "He deserves it and our D played great too."

Neufeld scored a power play goal with 56 seconds left in the second period and Brett Mazinke added an insurance marker with 3:57 remaining in the third.

Red River avoided catastrophe in the first period when Springfield failed to scored on a six-minute power play as Brett Mazinke was given a two-minute minor for roughing and four-minutes for high sticking.

"It's the adversity after the six-minute power play," said Xtreme captain Jesse Mitchell. "We got a few chances but we didn't get the puck in the net. It's what we do after the six-minute power play, not getting down on ourselves and getting out there and keep moving."

Springfield goaltender Quinn Walterson faced 20 shots in game five.

Mudbugs coach Mike Funk says his team played solid with their season on the line.

"We knew that the pressure was all on us. We fought all year for home ice for a reason and it's instances like this where we need to use it to our advantage and the guys stepped up big. Especially killing off a six-minute penalty for the majority of the first period. That game could have gone a whole different way. The guys buckled down and got the job done. I couldn't be more proud of them. Going into Sunday, we're obviously a very confident group that we'll be able to bring it back here on Thursday."

Game six goes Sunday (7 p.m.) in Oakbank.