EXETER – The Exeter Hawks are a win away from clinching their first-round playoff series against the Mt. Brydges Bulldogs after splitting a pair of weekend games.

The Hawks lost 7-3 Saturday night in Mt. Brydges but bounced back with a 4-1 win at home Sunday, grabbing a three-games-to-one lead in the best-of-seven series.

Exeter goalie Gregg Dodds struggled Saturday, surrendering four goals in the first period to a Mt. Brydges team badly in need of a win, but regained his composure Sunday night, making 33 saves in a Hawks victory.

Saturday’s game saw Exeter trail 4-1 after the first period, surrendering three goals in about the first four minutes and adding another in the frame’s closing seconds.

Hawks player Jeremy Oke scored his team’s lone goal 15:14 into the period, and Dodds was pulled from the game after 20 minutes.

The Hawks outscored Mt. Brydges 2-1 in the second period thanks to a pair of goals from

Dave Geoffrey, but Mt. Brydges added two more goals in the third, resulting in a 7-3 final score.

Dodds and fellow Hawks goalie Mike Siddall combined for 44 saves in the loss.

“We have to give some credit where credit’s due,” said Hawks head coach Jeff MacLean.
“Mt. Brydges realized that if they lost that game on Saturday night they’re down 3-0, so they came out with a real sense of urgency.

“They came out flying in the first period. We weren’t able to keep up with them ... We didn’t play a good game, but at the same time you’ve got to give them credit. They were definitely fighting for their playoff lives.”

Mt. Brydges struck first in Sunday’s game, scoring just over nine minutes into the first frame, but Exeter led 2-1 at the break, thanks to goals from Brent Rae and Josh Brohman.

Matt Dawdy and Brohman added goals in the second period, while Dodds shut out Mt.
Brydges the rest of the way.

MacLean said Exeter got back to doing what it does best Sunday night.

We kind of got back to the physical style, puck moving, aggressive down low kind of play that has made us successful, and has given us three wins in this series,” he said.

Dodds said the key to bouncing back was mainly mental, and a matter of not letting Mt. Brydges’ early goal in Sunday’s game bother him.

He tipped his hat to the Hawks defence, who have blocked several shots in the series.

“Everyone’s stepping it up on D,” he said.

The Hawks can clinch the series tomorrow (Thursday) in Mt. Brydges, a game scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m.

Game 6, if necessary, will take place Friday at 8:30 p.m. at the South Huron Recreation Centre.