As published in the Independent Free Press.

It’s been a recurring theme in these 2018 Ontario Junior Hockey League playoffs that when the Georgetown Raiders appear to be on the ropes of elimination, they’ve delivered a counterpunch to get back on even footing.

After falling behind 2-0 in their best-of-7 Buckland Cup league championship series, the South/West Conference-champion Raiders have battled back with an 8-0 win Tuesday and a 7-2 victory in Wellington Thursday to tie their matchup with the North/East representative Dukes a two games apiece.

Game 5 is set for Georgetown’s Alcott Arena Saturday at 7:30 p.m., with game 6 Sunday evening at Wellington.

Third-year forward Matt McJannet of Courtice, Ont. was the magic man Thursday, scoring four times to lead an offensive onslaught that broke open a 2-2 tie late in the second period with five goals in a 5:08 span stretching into the final frame.

Jason Smith had a goal and three assists for the visitors, with Andrew Court and affiliate player defenceman Dirk Stadig rounding out the scoring.

Troy Timpano was again exceptional for the Raiders, who outshot the opposition 42-41 in front of close to 1,000 spectators at the Wellington Community Centre.

If a seventh game is required it would be played Tuesday night in Georgetown.

The winner of the matchup moves on to the Dudley Hewitt Cup four-team Central Canadian championship tournament to be held May 1-5 in Dryden, Ont.