It was a do-or-die game for the Battlefords Bantam AA Barons Tuesday at the Battleford Arena, as they faced the Sask Valley Vipers.
The Barons lost game one of the Saskatchewan Bantam AA Hockey League's North Division final Saturday and were behind after the first period of Tuesday's game.
The Barons came out with a strong second period, and played well enough to be in the lead, if not up by two or three goals.
The Barons had to battle hard in the third period and forced overtime with a 4-4 tie after a goal on a rebound around the Vipers' net.
In overtime, the game-winning goal came off the rush and the Barons' bench erupted, as their season was extended, at least for another day.
The Barons were scheduled to go back to Warman Wednesday for a winner take all game-three with the Vipers.
Tuesday the Barons were short staffed after one player was ejected for checking from behind early in the first period, but goaltender Matthew Flath settled in and gave his team a chance to win the game. He made two stops on partial breakaways in the third period while his team was down a goal. Flath played especially well on the penalty kill, as both teams took what they would likely consider too many penalties in the game.
The South Division final was also sent to a game three between the Regina Pat Blues and the Prairie Storm. Prairie Storm won the first game 5-4 in overtime and Regina won game two of that series 4-3.
