BROOKS — Matt Wilkins scored at 3:27 of overtime to lift the Brooks Bandits past the Olds Grizzlys 4-3 in Alberta Junior Hockey League playoff action Saturday.
Brooks leads the best-of-seven South Division final 2-0 with the third and fourth games to be played tonight and Tuesday at Olds. Both games start at 7:30 p.m.
The Grizzlys led 1-0 after the first period on a goal by Dylan Hubbs. The Bandits pulled even when Maddison Smiley connected at 6:58 of the second period, but the visitors got a power-play marker from Casey Rogers at 15:23.
From, there RJ Reed scored just over two minutes later and Wilkins gave Brooks a 3-2 lead roughly eight minutes into the third period. Bart Moran’s goal four minutes later forced overtime before 1,720 fans at Centennial Regional Arena.
Jesse Ehnisz stood tall in the Olds net, stopping 47 shots. Jan Obernesser made 24 saves for Brooks.
The winner of the series will face either the Fort McMurray Oil Barons or Spruce Grove Saints in the league final. Spruce Grove leads the North Division final 2-0 after a pair of home-ice wins Friday and Saturday.