One could debate whether the more constrained ice surface of the T.M. Davies Community Centre in Walden actually created much in the way of a "home ice advantage" for the Greater Sudbury Cubs this week - but in the end, the two-time defending NOJHL league champions emerged with a two games to nil series lead over the Soo Eagles as the best of seven set now shifts to the States.

Much as was the case in their opening round playoff triumph over the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners, the Cubs needed the third period of play to finally break free in game one versus the Eagles, scoring four unanswered third period goals on route to a 5-1 win.

Lucas Caulfield (Soo) and Sudbury captain Daks Klinkhammer traded tallies in the opening period of play, with the middle stanza remaining scoreless. Klinkhammer opened the floodgates in the third, netting his second of the game at 6:23, with teammates Briir Long, also with a pair, and Kaedyn Long tacking on some extra insurance.

Iain Wintle registered 18 saves in picking up the win between the pipes for Sudbury as the Cubs outshot the Eagles 39-19. Five minor penalties were assessed, in total, through the opening forty minutes of play, with the teams combining to add 26 minutes to the PIM total in the third, including a ten minute misconduct to Noah Aboflan of the Cubs.

That trend of increased feistiness seemed to carry over to game two as Sudbury outlasted the Soo 9-6 in a wild and woolly affair that featured majors doled out to both Tyson Rismond (5 for CFB + game) and Lucas Antonioni (5 - match - spearing) of the Cubs.

Thankfully, sharpshooter and Sudbury Wolves' prospect Mason Walker was on target on this night, exploding to the tune of a five-goal effort for the winners, with Briir Long drawing an assist on four of those goals.

Alex Valade (2), Owen King and Caden Dubreuil rounded out the scoring for the Cubs, who were tied 1-1 at the end of one and were deadlocked at 4-4 after two.

Logan Stawizynski held the hot hand for the Eagles, recording a hat trick with Anden Marceau, Samuel Gold and Lucas Caulfield chipping in with one marker each.

Wintle played the entire game in net for the Cubs while Soo starter Jace Knoerle was pulled early in the third after surrendering his seventh of the game as both teams fired 32 shots on the opposing net.

Games three and four will take place on Monday and Tuesday at Pullar Stadium, with the Cubs heading back over to the Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex if game five is required on Thursday night.