Timely goals and stellar goaltending helped the McLean and Dickey Orillia Terriers eliminate the Innisfil Spartans Friday night.
The visiting Terriers earned a hard-fought 3-2 victory at the Innisfil Recreation Complex, winning their fourth straight game to triumph in the first-round Provincial Junior Hockey League playoff series, 4-1.
Every game in the series was tight, with the first-year Spartans putting up quite a battle in the first round.
On Friday night, Noah Mountain helped the Terriers get off to a strong start when he scored just over four minutes into the contest. Innisfil knotted the score four minutes later.
Early in the middle frame, the Terriers once again struck early as Jayden Murison found the back of the net just two minutes into the period. It was the only goal of the middle stanza.
In the third, Mountain tallied an unassisted goal midway through the period to give the visitors a 3-1 lead.
Innisfil kept pushing, and scored with just under five minutes remaining to make it interesting.
The Spartans pulled their goalie in favour of an extra attacker but could not pot the equalizer — much to the chagrin of more than 300 fans who were exhorting them on.
Netminder Reed Spinola, who played all five games in the series, was once again excellent, stopping 45 of 47 shots; Orillia was narrowly outshot 47-43.
The Terriers now move on to the second round, joining Schomberg, Alliston and Stayner — who each swept their first-round series — as the four teams still playing in the North Carruthers Division.
We’ll provide information on the second round series when it becomes available.
