The Port Hope Predators treated their fans to a thriller on opening night at the Jack Burger Sports Complex.

A near capacity crowd turned up at the arena to watch the Preds pull out a 3-2 overtime win over the Peterborough Stars on Saturday night. It was the second game of the year for the home team, which had won a tight game against the Lindsay Muskies the night before by a score of 5-2 (with two empty net goals). The Preds were looking to build on that momentum and the first 20 minutes of the game suggested a rout, with Port Hope dominating the play and doubling the Stars shot total while notching two power play goals. Jordan Wilson snuck a shot through Mathieu Cadieux’s legs to draw first blood for the Preds, while later in the period Ben Finney one-timed a pass from the slot right over the Stars goalie.

What looked like smooth sailing for the Preds, however, soon turned into a dogfight. “A two goal lead is the worst lead in hockey,” said head coach Brian Drumm after the game. “We knew Peterborough was going to give us a good go. They weren‚t going to  quit.”

Sure enough, the first five minutes of the second period saw the Stars roar back with two unanswered goals to tie the game. The play got tighter as the two teams fought to hold on to the game, with only seven shots between the teams in the third period. As overtime neared and fans grew anxious to see a shootout (a new addition to the league this year) they were given a sneak peek when Ben Finney drew a delay of game penalty that gave the Stars a penalty shot. With the crowd on its feet, Preds goalie Jeff Potvin came up big and made a blocker save to send the game to overtime.

The tight play continued into the extra frame until Tyler Miller became the hero, breaking into the Stars zone and shrugging off a checker while cutting into the middle, before firing a slapshot from the hashmarks that beat Cadieux.

“It was a goal scorers goal,” said Drumm of Miller’s winner. “He’s so creative and skilled, and he can win a game in one play.”

Miller was as relieved to end the game as he was to get the goal. “I just wanted to get it over  with,” he said. “We finished it the hard way. It’s good to get the winner.”

A strong team effort combined with Miller‚s heroics and a sterling night between the pipes from Potvin gave the Preds their second win in two games and has them facing their next challenge, a return game in Lindsay next Friday, with optimism.

“When your best players come through, it makes the coach look good,” laughed Drum