The Smiths Falls Jr. A Bears picked up an all-important single point despite their overtime loss Sunday to the Carleton Place Canadians in CCHL action, 2-1.

In their final match-up of the regular season, the Bears were in Carleton Place in front of 542 fans for the Sunday afternoon tilt.

The single point gives the Bears sole position of the number seven spot with three road games left.

One point – that’s all that separates the Bears from the number eight spot, held by Cumberland, and they are two ahead of the number nine spot, Nepean.

It’s a race to the end as the Bears will play Kanata, Brockville and Pembroke to wrap up their regular season. They’ll need at least one win and some help from the opposition if they want to see post-season play.

Carleton Place 2 Smiths Falls 1

The power play was working for both teams Sunday as regulation goals were scored with the man advantage.

After a scoreless first, Michael McKenny hit the twine for the Bears to take the lead  at 11:36 of the second. He was assisted by Hayden Hart and Stuart Harley.

But five minutes later, it was Connor Merkley who got past Bradley Dobson on the power play to knot it at one apiece. Andrew Dodson and Matthew Lombardozzi assisted on the equalizer.

The teams played through a no-scoring deadlock third period before the overtime period.

It was Justin Cmunt with just eight seconds remaining as the Canadians claimed the hard-fought win, 2-1. Connor Hill assisted on the winner.

Connor Hughes earned the win in nets with 17 saves.

It was a fairly quiet match in terms of penalties with the Bears taking four minors and the Canadians just five.

Game stars were Cmunt (first) for the Canadians; Dobson (second) for the Bears, and Merkley (third) for the Canadians.

The Bears will finish off their schedule this week with games in Kanata Thursday, March 9, Brockville on Friday, March 10, and in Pembroke on Sunday, March 11.