Blades heading to semifinals

The North Bay Hilltop Variety Blades swept the Timmins Technosub Rangers in two straight (best-of-three) the first round of the NOBHL playoffs, winning game one 2-1 in OT and winning game two 4-1.

In Saturday’s contest Jamie Olivier opened the scoring in the first and it stayed that way until a late third period goal by Francois Sylvestr evened the score at one.

In overtime the Blades leading scorer Chris Hebert came up with a big overtime winner to give the North Bay squad a 2-1 OT win and a 1-0 series lead.

Then Hebert paced the Blades in game two scoring twice and adding an assist in a 4-1 victory.

Jamie Sneddon and Nicklas Huard had the other Blades goals.

The Blades head to Sault Ste. Marie next weekend to begin a best-of-five semifinal series against the regular season NOBHLAAA champs.