The Orillia Terriers have wrangled back home-ice advantage in their Provincial Junior Hockey League first-round playoff series against Schomberg.
On Saturday night, the Terriers tallied five unanswered goals to earn a 6-3 triumph over Schomberg to knot the best-of-seven series at 2-2.
Midway through the second period of the game at Orillia’s Rotary Place, it appeared as if the Terriers’ strong season could be slipping away.
Schomberg, eight minutes into the middle stanza, scored to take a commanding 3-1 lead in the contest.
But four minutes later, thanks to a power-play goal from Josh Brown, the Terriers found their way back into the game and the series.
It was a turning point. That goal sparked the home side. Just two minutes later, veteran Zane Morris knotted the score.
Then, with just three ticks left on the clock in the second period, Everette Nudd scored a huge goal to lift the Terriers to an improbable 4-3 lead heading into the third.
Just 3:30 into the final frame, Jacob Linzner scored to stretch the Terriers' advantage to 5-3. Captain Cam Cochrane scored a last-minute, empty-net goal to seal the deal for the Terriers.
Schomberg outshot the Terriers 42-41. Once again, Orillia netminder Zach Levac was strong between the pipes to backstop his team to the pivotal victory.
After falling behind 2-0 in the series, the Terriers have shown resilience to fight their way back into the battle.
Orillia has a chance today to take a lead in the hotly-contested series. It’s a Family Day matinee as the Terriers and Cougars will clash in a 3:30 p.m. game at the Rama MASK.
A sixth game is slated for Feb. 20 in Schomberg. If necessary, a seventh game would be played Feb. 22 in Orillia.
Orillia finished the regular season in third place in the Carruthers Division after compiling a 25-14-0-3 regular-season record. Schomberg finished 25 points behind the Terriers - in sixth place, with a 11-22-1-2 mark.
