The Innisfail Eagles are one win away from moving on to the Chinook Hockey League finals.
The Birds headed into the weekend tied 1-1 in games with the Fort Saskatchewan Chiefs in the best of seven semi-final series but were in top form Friday night at home before more than 600 fans to earn an impressive 4-1 victory. The Eagles were led by Michael Kneeland who notched two goals.
The following night the Birds headed on the road to Fort Saskatchewan and skated to an impressive come from behind 4-3 overtime win.
With the two wins, the Eagles, whose primary mission this season has been to claim senior men's hockey supremacy at the national Allan Cup tournament this spring, now lead the series 3-1.
On Saturday it looked early like the Chiefs were out for revenge after the loss the night before by taking a quick 1-0 lead on a shorthanded goal by Chad Klassen at 17:57.
But three minutes later the Birds' Darryl Laplante tied the game on a pass from Kevin Smyth.
Midway in the first frame the Eagles ran into penalty trouble with Tylor Keller first getting called for hooking at 10:32 and then Brody Malek sent to the box 26 seconds later for slashing.
The Chiefs did not waste the glorious opportunity on the power play with Klassen getting his second at 9:19 and Richard Kelly scoring another at 8:38. The Chiefs were suddenly up 3-1, and it stayed that way until midway in the second frame when the Birds got their own power play firing.
Tyler Helfrich made it 3-2 at 10:32 and Brody Malek tied it up on another power play at 2:37. Smyth added his second assist.
The second frame ended with the Eagles once again far ahead in shots on goal and scoring opportunities. In that period alone the Birds outshot the Chiefs 12-3.
After a scoreless third period, Mike Sullivan became the Eagles' hero by scoring the game-winning overtime goal at 7:47. Smyth, who would earn player of the game honours for the Birds, added his third assist.
For the game, the Eagles outshot the Chiefs 43-32.
The Eagles have a shot of closing out the series in game 5 this coming Friday (Feb. 28) at home.
