Keeping it close is likely small consolation to the Sudbury Kal Tire Jr Wolves these days. Facing the Abitibi Eskimos in a best of seven NOJHL East Division semi-final, the Wolves battled through a second straight single goal encounter.

Unfortunately, head coach Dave Clancy and company have found themselves on the wrong side of the scoring ledger in both tight matchups, losing 2-1 at home Wednesday night and trailing the series two games to none. Add in a heart-breaking 7-5 double overtime loss in Iroquois Falls last Saturday and the Jr Wolves are facing an uphill battle that now requires them to win four of their next five games in order to advance.

Contrary to the wide-open "scorefest" that Eskies' fans were treated to over the weekend, game two produced a much more tight-checking affair, with scoring chances kept to a minimum. Red-hot Wolves' forward Zach McGillis, who netted a hat-trick in the series opener, nearly added to that midway through the first, foiled on a short-handed breakaway attempt by Abitibi netminder Francis Albert.

Later in the frame, former Valley East Cobra Alex Fiset received a pass in tight, stationed off to the left of Sudbury goalie Joey Delwo, with Fiset making no mistake tucking a nifty backhand top shelf. A scoreless middle stanza gave way to a final period that would see Josh Clancy (Abitibi) and Sudbury captain Jordan Cheechoo trading goals, not enough to allow the home side to stave off a second consecutive defeat.

Game three is set for riday night at the Jus Jordan Arena in Iroquois Falls, with the teams returning to the Garson Arena Sunday for a rare 2:00 p.m. start.