Box Score The Waterloo Warriors came from behind to defeat the Windsor Lancers men's hockey team 3-2 in overtime in game one of the Western Conference Finals on Wednesday night at Windsor Arena.
The Warriors hold a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series, with game two taking place on Saturday night at the Columbia Ice Field in Waterloo.
Windsor got on the board first early on in the game with a power play goal from OUA West defenseman of the year
Steve Ferry at 6:05 of the first.
Drew Palmer recorded the assist.
Just four minutes later, OUA all-star
Spencer Pommells scored his fourth of the post season, also on the power play, to give Windsor a 2-0 lead with just over nine minutes remaining in the first.
Windsor pressed the Warrior defense, and there was a mad flurry in front of the Waterloo net at the end of the period, but Waterloo goaltender Keaton Hartigan held off the Blue & Gold keeping the score at 2-0 to end the period.
The Warriors increased their pressure throughout the second period, but
Parker Van Buskirk was solid for the Lancers in net throughout the frame keeping the score unchanged heading into the third. Waterloo out-shot the Lancers 10-5 in the middle stanza.
Justin Larson got the visitors on the board just 0:43 seconds into the third period to bring the Warriors within one.
The Lancers hit the post twice in the period as the Warriors continued to take chances creating a number of odd man rushes in Van Buskirk's direction.
With just 1:33 remaining, Larson scored his second of the night to tie things up and send the game into overtime.
In the extra frame, Josh Wolley scored the Warriors go ahead goal just 2:20 into the period to give the Warriors a 1-0 series lead heading into game two on Saturday.
Van Buskirk had a solid night in net making 27 saves for Windsor, while Hartigan had 26 saves for the Warriors.
Windsor will look to the series up with a win Saturday night on the road. If necessary, the series deciding game three will take place Sunday at Windsor Arena. Puck drop is set for 7:30pm.
