It wasn’t easy -and things related to junior hockey this time of year seldom are- but the Wellington Dukes have engineered a pair of third period comebacks to lead their second round series versus Halliburton 2-0.

In Game One on Friday, the locals found themselves down 2-1 after 40 minutes and scored twice early in the second to hold off the Huskies 4-2.

Less than 24 hours later, Wellington was in Minden Saturday afternoon and found themselves mired in a 3-1 deficit after 20 minutes.

Edward Moskowitz had the game winning tally in Game 2 (Jason Parks/Gazette Staff)

But the Dukes showed resolve and scored a pair of goals in the third period to come out of cottage country with a 4-3 road victory in tow.

Rearguard Jacob Dietz had his best game as a Duke on Saturday afternoon in Game 2 as the former Picton Pirate scored once in the second and set up a pair of goals in third.

Wellington’s Luke Strickland scored his sixth of the post season in the first to interrupt three straight Huskies goals in the middle part of the opening frame that had the Dukes spinning their tires 3-1 after 20 minutes.

But Dietz would find a hole in the netminding of Aidan Spooner at the 10:18 mark of the second to get Wellington to within a goal.

In the third, Strickland was at it again. Ryan Cutler would set the Wellington sniper up a second time with an added helper going to Dietz at 8:14 that tied the game at 3-3.

Then, with less than ten minutes left in the third, Dietz and Jaxen Boyer helped Edward Moskowitz bust the deadlock at 13:55.

Dukes netminder Jacob Osborne took over from there and some of his 29 saves on the afternoon needed to be clutch and the were as Wellington preserved the win.

The day after a night game, Wellington, despite giving up an early lead, held the balance of the play, sending 47 volleys Spooner’s way.

On Friday at home, Wellington would open the scoring and held the play early but a pair of Huskies power play tallies had the visitors up through 40 minutes.

Dietz would find Luke LaPalm in the seem at 8:56 of the first and LaPalm made no mistake beating Spooner to the right post side for a 1-0 lead.

But a errant Wellington stuck swung in the way of a Halliburton player led to a power play where Issac Sooklal was able to beat Osborne at 16:01 to make it 1-1.

In the second, Halliburton was able to work and power play at at 12:28, Christian Stevens was able to jam home a bouncing puck off a scramble in front Osborne to give the guests their first lead in the series.

That lead lasted until early in the third when Julian Jacob unloaded for his second of the post season at 4:13. The power play tally was set up by Barrett Joynt and LaPalm.

Wellington wasn’t done and Connor Hunt would tee up Nolan Mozer just 45 second later to reclaim the lead for the Dukes.

Wellington would seal the deal in the final moments with a Strickland empty netter that netted an assist for Dietz. The Freelton, ON native has five points in the first two games of the OJHL Conference Semi Finals.

Wellington hosts Haliburton for Game 3 on Monday evening at 7:30 p.m.