Colts goalie Pete Karvouniaris makes a big save in the dying seconds of the third period to preserve a 3-3 tie with Brockville and force overtime. The Colts went on to win the game 4-3 to take a 1-0 lead in the semi-final series with the Braves.

PHOTO CREDIT - Robert Lefebvre/www.icelevel.com

Cornwall - Mar. 24, 2011 - After a tough start to the post-season, Michael Borkowski got some redemption on Thursday night.

The Colts forward scored roughly four minutes into overtime to seal the deal for Cornwall in a 4-3 win over the Brockville Braves in Game 1 of the best-of-seven semi-final series.

It was a bittersweet moment for Borkowski, who had recently been painted as a villain of sorts by some media outlets following an unintentional run-in with Kanata Stallions goalie Scott Shackell during round one of the playoffs. Shackell missed the rest of the series, while Borkowski was handed a two-game suspension.

It was a much different picture on Thursday night as Borkowski proved to be the difference-maker against a Braves squad that gave the Colts all they could handle - and then some.

The Braves jumped out to a 2-0 lead midway through the first period on goals from Maxime Dumond and David Roy.

Kevin Cole made it 2-1 at the 7:55 mark of the second period, but Dumond restored the two-goal lead for the Braves soon after with his second goal of the night. Still, the Colts battled back, and they once again cut the lead to one goal on a beautiful goal that started with a big pinch by Matt Jacobs at the blueline and ended with a nifty passing play by the Spink twins, with Tylor finishing it off.

Jacob Laliberte tied the game up early in the third period, and it remained that way until Borkowski netted the overtime winner.

In between the goals, the crowd of 1,607 on hand at the Cornwall Civic Complex were treated to an entertaining hockey game filled with great scoring chances - and great goaltending - at both ends of the rink.

Pete Karvouniaris faced 37 shots for the Colts, while Brockville netminder Justin Gilbert faced 44 shots.

The two teams won't have much time to digest and analyze Game 1 as they'll face off again tonight in Brockville for Game 2 (7:30 p.m.). Game 3 will be played in Cornwall on Sunday (7 p.m.).

In the other Central Hockey League semi-final series, Pembroke defeated Gloucester 6-3 on Thursday night to take a 2-0 series lead. That series continues on Sunday in Pembroke.

Click here to see more photos from Game 1 by local photographer Robert Lefebvre.