The Trenton Golden Hawks are in uncharted territory in the OJHL’s East Conference Semifinals.
For the first time since November, the Hawks have dropped consecutive games, falling 4-2 in Game 2 to the Newmarket Hurricanes on the road.
After some travel delays getting up to Newmarket, Trenton got stuck in another multi-goal hole after the first, with Lucas Teixiera pouncing on a Hawks turnover at 4:07 and Marcello Giorgi cleaning up a loose puck with 42 seconds left in the period.
The Hawks shook off the rust and preserved to knot the score at two after two periods thanks to Lucas Digiantommaso’s fourth of the playoffs from Jamie Darlison and Casey Bridgewater early in the second frame and a Daylen Moses strike, his third of the postseason from Joey Brehmer and Andrew Wycisk with less than three minutes to go.
It was touch-and-go through most of the third, with Trenton getting the bulk of the chances on net, but Carter Froggett stood tall in the Hurricanes net and preserved a chance for Newmarket to get one past Colton Drillen-Roach.
Connor Haynes did the honours, scoring on a cross-crease pass from Simon Wang with less than two to play in regulation.
A Nathan Phillips empty-netter secured the 2-0 series advantage for Newmarket heading into Game 3 back at Ray Twinney Complex for a 7:30 p.m. start.
