Skyhawks pull one out in OT

The North Bay Skyhawks were in a back and forth battle in Iroquois Falls as the Skyhawks and Abitibi Eskimos duked it out in game 3 of the NOJHL semifinal series.

The Skyhawks Justin Villeneuve opened the scoring on the power play but the Eskimos responded with a pair of goals in the second period on goals by Jeremie Dorval and Benoit Gauthier to take a 2-1 lead into the third period.

However, around the halfway mark of the third period Justin Villeneuve scored his second of the night again on the power play goal to even it up at 2-2.

That's the way things would stay by the end of regulation time but Dustin Fummerton finished the game by scoring an ugly goal that went off a defender in front and over the Eskimo goalies shoulder less than a minute into overtime giving the Skyhawks the 3-2 road victory and a 2-1 lead in the series.

It may not have been a highlight reel goal but it still may stand out as the biggest goal of the year so far for the Skyhawks.

"They say game 3 is the swing game," said Skyhawks head coach Ian Swalucynski.

"I thought we played very well all game and we kept doing what we were doing - keeping it simple and we gave ourselves opportunities and never quit."

The series shifts back to North Bay for game 4 on Friday night at Memorial Gardens as the Skyhawks hope to be the first team to win a game at home in the best-of-seven semifinal series.