In one of the most rare plays in hockey, Saugeen Shores Winterhawks netminder Jeff Flagler scored the game winning goal in a 5-3 win over the Creemore Coyotes.
The Winterhawks started off Game 2 with energy, forcing Creemore goalie Brendan Macham into action early.
They opened the scoring at 3:51 of the first, as Luke Pither gobbled up a loose puck in the slot after extended pressure in the Creemore zone, firing the puck over Macham to make it 1-0 Winterhawks. Miles MacLean picked up the assist.
The lead was extended to 2-0 when MacLean popped the water bottle on Macham at 13:48, with Pither and Josh Hopkin.
Creemore got one back late in the period as a backhander was deflected in front of Flagler to cut the Winterhawks lead to 2-1.
The Winterhawks failed to convert on a pair of power play opportunities early in the 2nd, but Creemore knotted the game on the power play at 14:02 to make it a 2-2 game.
Macham made several highlight reel saves to end the second period to keep it tied after 40 minutes.
The Winterhawks came out in the 3rd period with authority, putting constant pressure on the Creemore net.
Macham made several saves, until the Winterhawks finally got back on top, with Lauchlin Elder hammering a one-timer feed from MacLean at 6:07, with Medric Mercier also assisting to make it a 3-2 Winterhawks lead.
Creemore ended up on a five-on-three late in the 3rd period, but Flagler came up with several game-saving stops to keep the game at 3-2.
With the penalties killed off, that set up the unusual finish.
Flagler was credited with an empty net goal with 1:08 remaining in the 3rd period, after stopping a Creemore shot with the goalie pulled in the one goal game.
A Coyotes player picked up the rebound in the corner and sent a pass back to the point, which missed the defenceman and travelled the length of the ice into the Coyotes goal.
As the last Winterhawks player to touch the puck, Flagler was credited with the goal to make it a 4-2 game.
As fate would have it, the Coyotes got back to within one mere seconds later and Elder added another empty netter to seal the 5-3 final score.
With the Coyotes adding the extra goal, Flagler was credited with the game-winning goal.
Flagler was named the Wismer House Player of the Game, making 28 saves for the win, plus the game winning goal.
The Winterhawks now lead the best-of-seven series 2-0, with Game 3 set for Saturday evening in Creemore at 7:30 p.m.
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