Eyes focused ahead, Winterhawks Blake Underwood takes the puck and sprints into the Thundercats half. Hub photo

The Saugeen Shores Winterhawks were defeated by a determined Durham Thundercats team 4-2 on Friday night in Game 3 of their best-of-seven quarter final series. The Hawks lead the series 2-1.

The Thundercats were skating like their playoff lives depended on it and they jumped out to an early lead when Curtis Longland scored on a power play early in the first.

Hawks defenceman Trevor Smith evened the score with a power play goal of his own assisted by Jeff MacDermid and Brendon Haefling.

The Winterhawks continue to get great production out of all four lines and it was the fourth line that put them out in front midway through the second as Michael Johnstone made a great pass to Chris King who buried it high behind Durham goalie Gatlin Burt.

The Thundercats continued to work hard and it paid off late in the second when Kevin Tremble tied the game.

The third period was all Durham when it came to the scoreboard with Trevor Hughson and Chris Brown both scoring.

The Winterhawks outshot Durham 40-29 but Burt was strong in net yet again. The Hawks pulled Blake Sinclair with two minutes remaining in favour of the extra attacker but to no avail.

Game 4 is Sunday afternoon in Durham at 2:30 p.m. Game 5 is Friday, February 17 at The Plex in Port Elgin starting at 8:30 p.m.

with files from winterhawks.net

Durham Captain Keith MacMillan, left, and Winterhawks Captain Greg Thede stand with game sponsor Bruce Telecom's Dan Wieb, Network Administrator; Elizabeth Campbell, Customer Care Representative and her sons Seth (9) and Ethan (6) for the ceremonial puck drop. Hub photo

Trevor Smith takes a shot, putting the puck into the back of the Durham net to score the first of the Winterhawks goals. Hub photo

Winterhawks goalie Blake Sinclair deflects a shot away from his goal. Hub photo

Determined to keep the puck, Alex Kuntz gets past the Thundercats Ben Davis. Hub photo

Saugeen Shores Winterhawks Brent MacDermind skates around the Durham defence. Hub photo

Durham's goalie Gaitlin Burt blocks out Winerhawks Jay Thomson as he looms over the Thundercats net. Hub photo