Luke Pither scored two goals as the Saugeen Shores Winterhawks kept their season alive with a 4-1 victory in Game 4 against the Ripley Wolves.
The Winterhawks jumped out early on a backhand goal by Trent Hawke 6:54 into the game, with James McHaig assisting to make it 1-0 for the visitors.
Jeff Flagler got the start in the Winterhawks net, making 10 saves in the opening frame to keep it 1-0 after one.
Ripley picked up a pair of power plays in the second period, but Flagler and the penalty killers kept the Wolves off the board.
A Winterhawks power play followed, but they couldn't get one past Ripley netminder Jason Hamilton.
Pither picked up his first of the night in the final seconds of the second period, stepping behind the Ripley defence and snapping a shot under the catching arm of Hamilton, making it 2-0 after 40 minutes, with an assist to Trevor Smith.
Pither extended the lead to 3-0 at 4:12 of the third period, with Andy Mitchell assisting.
Penalty trouble crept in late, a spearing double-minor and an unsportsmanlike penalty called on the Winterhawks with 3:33 to play put Ripley on an extended two-man advantage, which gave them ample space to break Flagler's shutout bid with 3:01 left.
Ripley remained on a full two-minute five-on-three advantage after the goal, making it a six-on-three with the goalie pulled for an extra attacker, but the Winterhawks penalty killers and a spectacular 43-save performance by Flagler kept the Wolves at bay.
Mitchell put the game away with 20-seconds left with an empty net goal to send the series to Game 5, which will be on Friday March 10th and 8:30 p.m. in Ripley.
A win would force Game 6 in Port Elgin on Saturday night.
Full Boxscore
Photo Gallery by McGinny Photography