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The Generals’ last gasp was a game-tying, heavily reviewed goal 37 seconds into the third before the 67’s went into a second gear for goals by Marco Rossi at 3:11 on the power play and Mitchell Hoelscher four minutes later.

No. 1 star Sasha Chmelevski scored his second of the game at 8:44 as part of his four-point game and Kyle Maksimovch capped things at 11:16.

Photo by Valerie Wutti / OSEG

“I am proud of the way we reacted after their early (third-period) goal,” 67’s head coach André Tourigny said. “We have that burning desire and just never panicked.

“We never take anything for granted. At the beginning of the year, nobody thought the 67’s were a big deal.

“We just stuck to our plan. But this series is not the first team to two (wins). It’s the first to four.”

Photo by Valerie Wutti / OSEG

The 67’s outshot the Generals 42-28 and owned the third with a margin of 18-9 as the ice seemed tilted from west to east.

Lost in the onslaught were big saves — several big saves — late in the second period by Mikey DiPietro.

“People can read the stats any way they want,” Tourigny said. “But check Mikey when the game is on the line.

“He makes the key saves at the key moments, and he’s done that every game in the playoffs.”

Oshawa’s key trade deadline pickup, Brandon Saigeon, scored 28 seconds into the game, but Chmelevski even things at 7:03 on a NHL-calibre shot from an almost impossible angle.

Graeme Clarke scored his sixth of the post-season to give the 67’s a 2-1 lead before Ottawa native Serron Noel, the future Florida Panther, tied it.