The Walkerton?Hawks were pushed onto the brink of elimination by the fourth place Kincardine Bulldogs last week.
Faced with having to win at home in order to force a sixth game, Walkerton made no mistake in shutting the door last Sunday afternoon, staving off elimination with a 2-0 shutout victory.
After losing the series opener at home on?Feb. 26, The Hawks headed to Kincardine on March 3, looking for their first playoff win.
The Bulldogs offence, which proved effective in their 7-5 victory in game one, remained strong and fired in a trio of goals in the third period to take game two by a score of 4-2
Hawks Head Coach and General Manager Steve Barrett said he was frustrated by the lack of offensive output from his team in the opening games of the series.
“Game one and two we had no work ethic.?When you don’t come to work it doesn’t matter who you’re playing, you’re going to get taught a lesson. That decided our fate in games one and two,” he said.
Greg Wardell and Matt Rostek scored Walkerton’s pair of goals in the loss.
Clayton Fritsch made 29 saves in the losing effort. atlin Burt earned the win for Kincardine making 22 saves.
Back in Walkerton last Friday night The Hawks showed signs of life, earning their first 2009-2010 post-season victory by a score of 2-1.
“Our game plan hasn’t changed at all; we just started to play with a bit of passion,” Barrett said, “I questioned the team about whether they still wanted to play hockey this year and let them know that I was looking for guys to step up and lead.”
After the teams traded goals midway through the first, the game remained tied until the dying seconds of the third when Mitch Allen put away the game winner assisted by James McHaig.
Mike Bujold scored Walkerton’s first goal.
Fritsch made 25 saves in the win, while on the other side Burt made 29 saves.
Action returned to Kincardine for game four where, despite an effort that carried them into triple overtime, Walkerton came up on the short end of a 4-3 final score.
Burt made 63 saves in the Bulldogs’ victory, while his counterpart?Fritsch made 54 saves in net for The Hawks.
“Burt’s been the difference; there’s no questioning that,” said Barrett, “We knew he was good, but we didn’t know he was that good.”
Barrett called Fritsch and Burt the two best goalies in the league, and called their style of play very similar.
“In the past three games Clayton has done a fantastic job,” Barrett said, also congratulating Burt on his performance in game four.
“I remember being in triple overtime and seeing that shots were 52-33 in our favour and yet the scoreboard had us tied 3-3,” he recalled, “We’ll just have to get in front of him and make sure he doesn’t see those shots coming through.”
Rostek, Justin Wakewich, and Steve Allen scored for Walkerton in game four.
Home in Walkerton for game five — their first game facing elimination — The Hawks refused to flinch and skated away with a 2-0 victory.
Barrett said handing Kincardine the goose egg  was a confidence booster for Fritsch.
“(Assistant G.M.) John Biesenthal pulled Clayton aside before the game. John’s been working with him all winter, and?Clayton told him the door was going to be closed. He stayed true to his word,” said Barrett.
Fritsch made 28 saves in the win, while Burt made 26 in the loss.
The game stayed scoreless until the third period when?Tyler Allen connected with Wakewich on the power play for the game winner.
Rostek added an empty-netter with under a minute left for his fourth point in five post-season showings.
Barrett commented on Rostek’s recent contributions to the team.
“He asked us for the chance to show what he could do and he’s been on a rampage. He comes to the rink with a smile, gives everything he’s got, finds more to give, and then still goes home with a smile,” Barrett said.
“We’re down but not out,” he added.
Game six was last night  in Kincardine. If necessary, game seven would be tonight in Walkerton at 9 p.m.
Find the report on The Hawks’ playoff performance in next week’s WHT.