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After opening the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League championship series with a victory at home, the Soo Thunderbirds will need a win at home to stay alive this weekend.
The Thunderbirds dropped a 5-3 decision to the Hearst Lumberjacks on Thursday night in Hearst and now trail the best-of-7 NOJHL final 3-1 as the series returns to Sault Ste. Marie on Saturday night.
Trailing 3-1 midway through the second period, Hearst scored four unanswered goals en route to the win.
The Thunderbirds scored a pair of goals in the opening period to take a 2-0 lead.
Josh King opened the scoring just under five minutes into the contest while Steven Bellini made it 2-0 with a power play marker.
Max Griffioen scored on the power play to get Hearst on the board just under six minutes into the second period.
After Matthew Bazarin made it 3-1 Sault, only to see Hearst cut the lead back to one on a goal by Cameron Clark 1:04 later.
Griffioen tied the game and Jacob Comeau gave Hearst the lead heading into the final period with a power play goal.
Troy Daniels sealed the win with an empty net goal with 1:02 to go in the third.
Thunderbirds goaltender William Anderson made 27 saves while Nicholas Tallarico made 20 stops for Hearst.
Hearst took a 2-1 series lead on Wednesday night thanks to a 3-2 win.
Christian James-McDonald scored 5:26 into the third period to break a 2-2 tie and give the Lumberjacks the win.
Bradley Golant had a goal and an assist for the Lumberjacks in game three while Mathew Eardley also scored. Max Johnson assisted on a pair of goals while Tallarico stopped 31 shots.
Noah Boman scored both goals for the Thunderbirds. Lucas Theriualt assisted on both goals.
Colin Ahern got the start for the Thunderbirds but left the game early in the second period due to injury. Ahern made 10 saves on 12 shots.
Anderson entered the game and stopped 17 shots the rest of the game.
Puck drop for game five on Saturday night is 7 p.m. at the John Rhodes Community Centre.