Spine & Sport showed remarkable resilience to fight back from the brink and secure a dramatic 4-3 overtime victory against CG in the opening clash of their playoff series.
In a high-stakes encounter at the PCC Hockey Rink, it was CG who appeared to be in total control during the early exchanges. Andrew Leavy and Jeremy Estey both found the net in a dominant first period, leaving Spine & Sport reeling.
Christopher Merritt managed to claw one back for Spine & Sport before the first buzzer, but the momentum swung back to CG in the second frame when the prolific Dallas Montgomery restored their two-goal cushion.
Trailing 3-1 heading into the final stages of the match, Spine & Sport mounted a desperate offensive. Rob Osborne narrowed the gap in the second period, setting the stage for a frantic final frame.
The pressure eventually told when Kris Abramowski found the equalizer in the third period, beating the CG goaltender to send the game into a sudden-death overtime period.
With the series lead on the line, the tension was palpable in the extra frame. It was Abramowski who once again rose to the occasion, clinical in front of goal to net his second of the night and complete the comeback.
The victory gives Spine & Sport a vital 1-0 lead in the series, leaving CG to reflect on a missed opportunity after holding a commanding lead for much of the regulation time.
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