The Georgetown Raiders looked to be on their way to extending their Ontario Junior Hockey League season, but the Leamington Flyers had other ideas.
Needing a win to prevent a sweep of the first-round playoff series, Georgetown led 5-3 with four minutes to play Saturday. However, Leamington scored goals 34 seconds apart to tie the game and then for the second straight game, the Flyers won in overtime.
Things started off well for the Raiders who jumped out to a 2-0 first-period lead on goals by Owen McNamara and Kaleb Nelson. Georgetown took a 2-1 lead into the third, a wild period that would see the teams combine for seven goals.
Leamington got the first two to take its first lead of the game, but it was short-lived as Cole Zurawski tied the game for the Raiders 31 seconds later. Brandon Kakei and Kristian Lamanna restored Georgetown’s two-goal advantage until the Flyers rallied late.
Three minutes into overtime, Leamington would dash the hometown crowd’s hopes to win the game 6-5 and take the series 4-0.
It was a late goal by Georgetown that forced overtime Thursday in Leamington. With the Raiders trailing 2-1, Zurawski scored with 53 seconds left in the third to pull Georgetown even.
Despite the Raiders holding a 9-4 advantage in shots in the overtime, it was Leamington that got the winning goal with less than two minutes remaining in the period. That spoiled a strong performance by Georgetown goalie Aiden Berry, who turned aside 49 of the 52 shots he faced.
