Kilty B’s edge Meteors to take 2-1 series lead
Jayden Baldinelli scored a pair of goals as the Fort Erie Meteors dropped a 4-3 decision at Hamilton Thursday. File photo.
The Fort Erie Meteors continue to show they are no fluke.
The Meteors dropped a 4-3 decision to the Hamilton Kilty B’s Thursday in Hamilton in Game 3 of their Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League, Golden Horseshoe Conference semifinal playoff series.
The Kilty B’s lead the best-of-seven set 2-1 with both of their wins coming on home ice by identical 4-3 scores.
Hamilton led the entire 25-team GOJHL in winning percentage and points in the regular season but have been pushed to the limit by the Meteors, who are playing their best hockey of the year.
The Kilty B’s opened the scoring four minutes in when former Meteor Dylan Abbamont netted his fifth of the post-season. Ex-Thorold Blackhawk Harrison Gore made it 2-0 Hamilton six minutes later before Sam Barrett responded for the Meteors.
In the second period, Jayden Baldinelli went to work and scored a pair of goals, both assisted by Hunter Zoccoli and Joseph Macchione, to give Fort Erie a brief 3-2 lead before Nathan Phillips tied the game at 3-3 with his fourth of the playoffs.
“Proud of how we battled tonight, going down two early and making our way back,” Fort Erie coach Nik Passero said.
Haiden Lambert netted the winner halfway through the third for Hamilton.
Gage Stewart got his first start of the post-season in goal for the Kilty B’s and kicked out 30 shots for the win.
“I think we had the better side of play for a lot of the night. Their guy made some big saves,” Passero added. “Good to have the day off tomorrow to regroup for a great home crowd Saturday.”
Duncan Nichols-Delay made 22 saves for the Mets.
Game 4 is Saturday in Fort Erie at 7:15 p.m. Game 5 goes Monday back in Hamilton.
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