A fast start and a late surge helped the McLean and Dickey Orillia Terriers re-take home ice advantage in their North Carruthers Division championship clash with Alliston.
Terriers sniper Jordan Fuller scored in the first period and added another in the second to give the visiting Terriers a 2-0 lead heading into the third period of their hard-fought playoff battle at the New Tecumseth Rec Centre Monday night.
But the Hornets — who had not lost a game in regulation throughout the regular season and playoffs until losing on home ice against Orillia in Game 1 — rallied in the third.
Buoyed by a big crowd, the Hornets buzzed around the Terriers net, scoring two goals in just over two minutes to knot the score and steal the momentum.
Undaunted, the Terriers regrouped and went on the attack. And as he has done since joining the Terriers, Caleb Tiffin-Seminara scored a huge goal with just over seven minutes left in the game to propel the visitors into the lead once again.
After killing off a late penalty, the Terriers iced the victory when Lleyton McLean scored an empty-net goal to give the Terriers the well-deserved 4-2 victory and a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven championship series.
Goaltender Reid Thomas continued his strong play, stopping 32 of 34 shots; the Terriers outshot Alliston 44-34 in the game that drew 771 fans to the Hornets' home rink.
The Terriers will have an opportunity to gain control of the series on home ice Wednesday night. The critical fourth game will be played at Rotary Place in west Orillia; puck drop is 7:30 p.m.