Ontario Hockey Association

After sweeping their first two playoff opponents, the Wallaceburg Lakers are in danger of being broomed from the final.

They lost 5-0 to the Essex 73's on Tuesday in Game 3 of the Great Lakes Junior 'C' Hockey League championship series at Essex Arena.

With a 3-0 series lead, the 73's are one win away from their fourth consecutive title and sixth in seven years.

Game 4 in the best-of-seven final is tonight at Wallaceburg Memorial Arena at 7:30 p.m.

To avoid elimination, the Lakers must find a way to shut down the 73's while getting their own offence on track.

Essex has 17 goals in the series, courtesy of 14 different players.

Head coach Tony Piroski said before the series that the defensive-minded 73's have more scorers than in the past.

"This year we have our most offensive depth," he said. "We have a lot of guys who can put it in."

Cory Hamilton, Tanner Gallant and Nick Mariani scored their first in the series on Tuesday. Gabe Gervais and Anthony Iaquinta had the other tallies.

R.J. Hotts chipped in with three assists. He has one goal against Wallaceburg after scoring 11 in the first two rounds, but his production hasn't been missed.

While almost everyone is scoring for the 73's, the Lakers are having trouble finding the net.

The Lakers have only three goals in the championship series, none by their forwards.

They lost 8-2 in Game 1 and 4-1 in Game 2.

Branden Robitaille made 24 saves for his third shutout of the playoffs.

Ryan George of the Lakers stopped 37 shots.

Gervais scored the eventual winner just 2:35 after the opening faceoff.

Hamilton followed at 13:46 and Iaquinta added a power-play goal at 15:31 for a 3-0 lead at the first intermission.

The 73's scored two more with the man advantage in the second period. Gallant tallied at 5:54 and Mariani added the final goal at 11:32.

Hamilton, Iaquinta and Mariani each finished with two points for Essex, which has 10 power-play goals in the series.

For the Lakers to win the championship, they must win four straight against a team that has lost only seven of 53 games this season.

Game 5, if necessary, will be Friday in Essex.