The Nepean Raiders came close to giving away a three-goal lead to the Smiths Falls Bears, but did just enough to escape with a 5-3 victory.

Nepean led by three goals at one point and ended with the victory. The largest advantage in the game came when the Raiders' Brent Norris' scored at 15:24 in the first period to put Nepean up 3-0.

The win gave the Raiders a 1-0 lead in the best of seven series.

Norris had two goals and one assist to lead Nepean.

In a losing effort, Smiths Falls was paced by Matt Robertson, who racked up two goals. Robertson scored the first of his two goals on the power play at 2:28 into the third period to make the score 3-2 Nepean. The Bears earned a power play opportunity when Mitchell Herlihey was put in the box for high sticking. Jeffrey Carroll picked up the assist. Robertson's next tally on the power play made the score 4-3 Nepean with 4:43 left in the third period. Smiths Falls had taken the advantage when the Raiders' Craig Cowie got sent off for cross checking. Connor McLaren provided the assist.

Nepean kept the Bears' goalie busy throughout the game, and Mackenzie Sawyer made 38 saves on 43 shots.

Nepean additionally got points from Dalen Hedges, who also grabbed one goal and one assist and Ben Hutton, who also had one goal and one assist. Nepean also got a goal from Mac Weegar as well. In addition, Nepean received assists from Kenneth Neil, who had three and Alex ODea and Shaun Altshuller, who contributed one a piece.

Smiths Falls excelled on the penalty kill, not giving up a single goal in four chances.

Other players who recorded assists for Smiths Falls were Robbie Hall and Jarrett Williams, who each chipped in one.

Matt Zawadzki recorded 23 saves for the Raiders. Nepean incurred 12 minutes in penalty time with six minors. The Bears incurred eight minutes in penalty time with four minors.