The Trenton Golden Hawks met their match in a Round 2 playoff opener Friday night.
The Newmarket Hurricanes caught fire with four unanswered goals and held on to edge Trenton 4-3 in Game 1 of the East Semifinals at the Duncan McDonald Community Gardens.
Daylen Moses sunk the first goal home 10:34 into the opening period, his second of the postseason from Isaiah Shantz and Kale Mace before the Hurricanes brewed up their storm.
Newmarket tied the game less than three minutes after Moses’ goal, then rattled off three more in the second period to send starter Hayden Jeffery to the bench in favour of Colton Drillen-Roach.
Backed by their outstanding second goaltender, the Hawks attempted to kick start a comeback with their high-powered offensive unit.
Beckett Ewart wildly hacked at a rebound with ‘Canes goaltender Carter Froggett out of position and slipped the puck home to cut the deficit to 4-2 from Josh Penney and Joey Brehmer.
The next man up mentality shone through immediately after, just 26 seconds later, on a conversion from Mace, set up by Moses and Wyatt Gregory, giving the Hawks some clear hope.
Momentum firmly on Trenton’s side, the ‘Canes fell into the dreaded trap of penalties, committing three straight infractions and forcing Froggett to be elite to keep Newmarket ahead.
Newmarket outshot Trenton 38-31 and has ripped away home ice advantage going into Games 2 and 3 back at Ray Twinney Complex Sunday at 4:30 p.m. and Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.
