A hard-fought road win by the McLean & Dickey Orillia Terriers has pushed the Midland Flyers to the brink of elimination in the teams’ Provincial Junior Hockey League opening round playoff series.
Heading into Sunday’s game at the North Simcoe Recreation Complex, the Terriers had a 2-0 series advantage.
The Flyers played like their playoff lives were on the line, opening up a 2-0 lead in the second period.
But the Terriers exploded for two goals in nine seconds - off the sticks of Lucas Wessinger on the power play and Mason Beck - to knot the score before the midway point of the game. Sam Pink tallied another power-play marker to give the Terriers the lead, before the Flyers tied the contest.
However, two late goals - from Beck and Dylan Palomaki - gave the Terriers a 5-3 advantage heading into the final frame.
Midland scored with about six minutes remaining to close the gap to within one goal, but the Terriers’ defence and netminder Wade Monague (who came into the game to start the third period in relief of Reed Spinola) were able to shut the door and seal the deal for the visitors.
Orillia out-shot the Flyers 35-27 in front of 115 fans in Midland.
With the narrow victory, the Terriers, who finished second in the eight-team North Carruthers Division in the regular season, now have a 3-0 stranglehold on the series and can sweep aside Midland with a win on home ice Tuesday night. The Terriers have not lost to Midland this season in either the regular season or playoffs.
The triumph for the Terriers did not come easy as the two teams have played three tough, physical games in less than 48 hours. The Terriers won 6-3 in each of the first two games.
Game time Tuesday night at Rotary Place in west Orillia is 7:30 p.m.
