The Durham West Lightning came out flying on home ice, capitalizing on early power plays to build a commanding lead. Just over a minute after Burlington's Keelin Song was sent off for cross-checking, Pippa Green, wearing #26, opened the scoring with a power-play marker, assisted by Peyton Fleming and Madison Bryk. The Lightning kept the pressure on and were rewarded in the dying seconds of the first period. With just five ticks left on the clock, Lorelai Himle (#22) found the back of the net, with helpers from Neve Thatcher and Mackenzie Riches, sending Durham West into the intermission with a confident 2-0 advantage.
The middle frame was a tense, scoreless affair, but the game's complexion changed dramatically in the third period. The Burlington Barracudas, led by the offensive prowess of Hayley Thompson, mounted a furious comeback. Thompson (#7) cut the deficit in half midway through the period, finishing a setup from Caileigh Tiller. Then, with Durham West's Soren Biderman in the box for tripping in the final minute, Thompson struck again on the power play. She buried her second of the night with just 30 seconds remaining in regulation, tying the game and completing a stunning rally, with Addyson Lee and Chelsea Tiller earning the assists.
The momentum had swung entirely to the visitors, and they carried it into the extra frame. In the four-on-four overtime, Addison Butler (#81) emerged as the hero for Burlington. She netted the game-winning goal just under two minutes into the period, sealing a hard-fought 3-2 comeback victory for the Barracudas. The Lightning's strong start, fueled by their special teams, was ultimately undone by Burlington's relentless third-period push and overtime execution, handing Durham West a heartbreaking defeat.
Mississauga Hurricanes #5875