PARKHILL – The Exeter Hawks jumped out to a 2-1 divisional playoff series lead over the North Middlesex Stars last week with a pair of road wins.
Exeter beat the Stars 5-3 in Parkhill March 9,  and followed that with a 4-3 loss at home Friday night but bounced back with another 5-3 win Saturday night.
North Middlesex had the best home record in the league during the regular season but has been vulnerable in their own arena during playoffs, losing four of six home games in the first two rounds so far.
The Hawks were also tough to beat on home ice during the regular season but have stepped up their play on the road during the post-season, posting a 4-1 record.
"We're happy with where we're at (in the North Middlesex series) so far," said Hawks coach Jeff MacLean in an interview.
"Obviously the game that we let slip away (Friday night) would be good to have back, but we won two games on the road in Parkhill, which has been tough for anybody this year."
The Hawks led 2-0 after the first period of the March 9 game, thanks to goals from Jordan Brohman and Jake Jeffrey.
North Middlesex player Chris Wilson scored a shorthanded goal 42 seconds into the second period and teammate David Reschke – a Dashwood native – added another goal less than a minute later.
Hawks forward Justin Reid scored near the eight-minute mark and Jeffrey added his second of the game at 13:33 to give Exeter a 4-2 lead.
Josh Brohman scored an unassisted goal with 6:27 left in the game, and though Stars player Kyle Bent scored on a power play with 2:10 remaining, the Hawks were able to hold on for the win.
Friday night the score was tied 1-1 after 20 minutes, with goals from Hawks defenceman Tim Bilcke and Stars player Zak MacNaught.
The Hawks held a 3-2 advantage heading into the third, thanks to second-period goals from Shane Mudge and Jeffrey.
Stars player Chris Salmi also scored in the second period, and North Middlesex added two power play goals in the third – including the winner from Reschke with 48 seconds left – to take the win.
Hawks goalie Gregg Dodds had 32 saves in the loss, while North Middlesex goalie Aaron Bedard, a Hensall resident, had 39 saves.
The Hawks never trailed in Saturday night's game, and didn't allow any scoring until about seven minutes into the third period.
Jeremy Oke and Reid had first-period goals for the Hawks, while Matt Dawdy scored in the second period.
North Middlesex's Tyler Clarke spoiled a Dodds shutout bid 7:08 into the third, but Jeffrey found the net 23 seconds later, making the score 4-1.
North Middlesex climbed back in the game late in the third, thanks to goals from Wilson and David Royackers.
They were unable to solve Dodds the rest of the way, however, and Hawks forward Steve Gingerich scored an empty-net goal with 1:10 remaining to ice the victory.
MacLean said last week he anticipated a tough series from North Middlesex and still believes it will be difficult to overcome the Stars, last year's SOJHL champion.
"Every game's going to be tough," he said. "These guys were the champs last year, and they know how to win. They were down to Lambeth (in their) last series and they clawed back and beat them in seven games.
"So we're going to have to battle right down to the finish, that's for sure."
The Hawks were set to play Game 4 of the series Tuesday night, after this week's Times-Advocate went to press. Game 5 will take place this coming Friday in Parhkhill at 8:30 p.m., with Game 6 Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in Exeter if necessary.