It's official: the Hearst Lumberjacks are easily the most challenging opponent that the Greater Sudbury Cubs have faced this spring.

One day after having their eight game post-season winning streak snapped via a 6-2 loss to the visiting Lumberjacks, the Cubs needed a game-tying goal in the final minute followed by a sensational solo effort from Nolan Newton in overtime to even the best of seven NOJHL final at a game apiece with a 5-4 win.

The closeness of this matchup was evident from start to finish of game two as Brayden Hindman (Hearst) and Noah Kohan (Sudbury) traded first period tallies, the teams exiting the frame tied at one.

The Cubs gained the upper hand in the middle stanza, scoring early (Spencer Horgan - 0:47), seeing the Jacks reply on the power play (Chase Thompson - 5:21), but securing a lead courtesy of Cameron Shanks (14:21).

The resilience of the Lumberjacks has been put to the test often this post-season and Friday was no different as the visitors pulled even on a goal from Cole Miller, securing a 4-3 lead four minutes later as Henry Ouellet bulged the twine.

Heroics in game two would be provided first by Shanks, who set up perfectly for a power-play one-timer on a pass from Daks Klinkhammer (19:13) and then by Newton, less than five minutes into OT.

The former OHLer showcased his blazing speed to the outside, backing up the Hearst defensive duo and going back against the grain with a perfectly wired wrist shot from the high slot for the win.

The contest might have been closed out earlier for the defending champs if not for a 50-save performance from Hearst netminder Alexander Boivin, with Karsen Chartier making 31 stops at the other end to register the "W".

Just 24 hours earlier, the Lumberjacks scored four unasnwered goals out of the gate, including three in a span of just over six minutes early in period two and withstood a second period push from the Cubs en route to victory.

A nicely balanced Hearst attack saw six different players hit the mark - Mathieu Comeau, DonHeaven Veilleux, William Paquet, Chase Thompson, Tyler Patterson and Bronson Babyak - with Lucas Signoretti countering with both goals for the Cubs.

The series now veers north for games three and four, taking place Tuesday and Wednesday in Hearst, with game five set to return to the Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex on Friday, April 25th