Golden Hawks edge closer to series comeback

Amy Deroche / OJHL Images

Lucas Digiantommaso delivered again when the Trenton Golden Hawks needed him most.

With their playoff hopes on the line, the overage forward scored late in the third period to give Trenton a 3–2 win over the Newmarket Hurricanes on Sunday night at the Duncan McDonald Memorial Community Gardens.

Digiantommaso, who leads the Golden Hawks in postseason scoring with seven goals and 13 points in nine games, snapped home the winner with under five minutes to play.

“That one felt pretty electric,” he said. “We needed a big goal there. I got a bit lucky, but it could have been anyone stepping up. I’m just really happy we get to play another game.”

After a scoreless first period, Jamie Darlison broke the deadlock before Newmarket answered through Kristian Lamanna.

Darlison restored Trenton’s lead later in the frame with his fifth of the postseason, sending the Golden Hawks into the intermission up 2–1.

Digiantommaso was quick to praise Darlison, who led the way offensively with a team-high three points.

“He’s a stud,” he said. “He’s big, powerful, and has been one of our best players for a lot of the playoffs. When he’s going, he’s really hard to stop. He’s such a force out there.”

Newmarket pushed back in the third, with Matthew Babiy tying the game. With time winding down, Digiantommaso buried his third game-winner of the playoffs.

Colten Drillen-Roach made 30 saves in the win, while Trenton was perfect on the penalty kill.

“He’s been unbelievable,” Digiantommaso said. “We have a lot of belief in both of our goalies, he’s so dialled in right now. We trust him completely back there.”

After losing the first three games of the best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinal, the Golden Hawks have won back-to-back games to make it a 3–2 series.

“We’re not really looking at the series as a whole. We finished first in our conference, so we know what we’re capable of when we’re playing our game,” he said. “We just needed that confidence boost.”

The series shifts back to Newmarket on Tuesday night, where the Golden Hawks will try to force a Game 7 back in Trenton.

“We’re just taking it one game at a time,” Digiantommaso said. “When we’re playing our best, we’re a really tough team to play against.”