Game one of the playoff series between Yorkton and Nipawin was a defensive affair.
When the teams met in game two at the Centennial Arena in Nipawin the offences took over.
The Terriers took their first lead of the series when Cole Keenleyside scored the lone goal of the first period with 1:36 left in the frame.
It took only 1:38 into the second for the host Hawks to tie the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League game as Austen Flaman found the twine.
It was only 1:05 later Michael Makarenko made it 2-1 for Nipawin, and then at 4:28 Jordan Simoneau made it a 3-1 game in favour of the Hawks.
Keenleyside then responded for Yorkton scoring at 6:38, and then completing a natural hat trick at 13:17 to send the teams to the dressing room knotted 3-3 after 40-minutes of play.
Mason Mullaney gave the Terriers a lead early in the third scoring at 3:17, then potted his second of the contest at 8:58 to give Yorkton a 5-3 lead.
A powerplay goal by Jake Tremblay with 1:23 left in the game drew the Hawks within one, but time would run out and the Terriers had tied the best-of-seven series at a game apiece thanks to a 5-4 win.
Ryan Ouellette was the winning netminder for the Terriers facing 44-shots, while Declan Hobbs took the loss for Nipawin facing 35.
Game three of the series is scheduled for Tuesday, March 19 at the Farrell Agencies Arena in Yorkton, with game four set for Wednesday.
In other action Saturday Estevan evened their series with Humboldt with a 4-2 road win, while Melfort took their second straight from Kindersley, this time by a 5-2 margin. Flin Flon and Battlefords went to overtime tied 1-1, with the Stars winning 2-1,for a second straight win in their series.
