The Trenton Golden Hawks are shipping off to the second round of the OJHL Playoffs for a fourth consecutive year.
The Hawks climbed out of a two-goal first period hole, rattling off four consecutive goals, including three on the powerplay, to double the Lindsay Muskies 4-2 and oust their East Conference opponents.
Lindsay found the net on Colton Drillen-Roach, making his debut in this year’s playoffs, through Braxton Meyers and Ajay Rai more than six minutes apart in the first.
The Hawks came alive a bit after that, getting one back in the second on a powerplay laser from Jack Ziliotto from Lucas Digiantommaso at 11:50.
The third period proved to be a scrappy one, with at least five players involved in a major scuffle early on after Trenton wrestled control of the game.
Jamie Darlison pierced the armour of George Cote 1:11 into the frame on a one-timer set up by Digiantommaso and Casey Bridgewater, then took the lead 48 seconds later via Josh Penney.
Candon O’Neill carried the load end-to-end before being hipchecked by a Muskie, allowing the puck to come loose for a streaking Penney, who patiently outwaited Cote and slid it in past his left pad for the game-winning marker.
Thomas Kuipers buried his second of the postseason from Penney at 5:15 for insurance.
Drillen-Roach was solid in his first start, making 37 saves as Lindsay outshot Trenton 39-29, but the mighty Hawks prevailed for their 11th series win in the last four seasons.
The Hawks will await their Round 2 opponent and will likely start the next series next weekend.
