MHKY: Thunderwolves take opener against York

A road start is never an easy way to start a playoff run.

Building a 3-0 lead after two periods is a great way to ease the nerves – though allowing your opponent to storm back with a pair in the first three minutes of third can bring the butterflies back out.

A win is a win, though, especially in a best-of-three series, and that’s just what the Lakehead Thunderwolves accomplished Wednesday night, doubling the York Lions 4-2.

David Quesnele and Brennan Menard scored three-and-a-half minutes apart in the first to jumpstart the Thunderwolves offence, with Mike Hammond adding a power-play marker in the second to hand the Wolves a three-goal lead.

But Jordan Forfar, who beat Jeff Bosch 56 seconds into the third, and John de Gray, who connected at the 2:41 mark, responded quickly in the final frame, cutting LU’s lead to one.

Cody Alcock iced it, however, scoring into the empty net with 31 seconds left in regulation to seal the win and a 1-0 series lead.

Game 2 is scheduled for Friday night at Fort William Gardens, with Game 3, if necessary, going Saturday.

Bosch made 36 saves in earning the win. Andrew Perugini, one of the top goaltenders in the OUA this season, made 23 stops.

In other opening round play, McGill stopped Concordia 3-1, Carleton doubled Nipissing 4-2, UQTR pounded UOIT 8-3 and Queen’s got by Ottawa 3-2.