Photo: Terry Wilson/OHL Images

Capitals first-round pick Andre Burakovsky has had an excellent run in his first season in North America. After scoring 41 goals in 57 games during the regular season, Burakovsky kicked off the OHL playoffs with six goals in four games before hitting a mini-slump of three scoreless contests (all of which were won by his Erie Otters).

That slump lasted through a tight, low-scoring game 3 of the series between Erie and the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. With less than two minutes left game and up 1-0, Burakovsky– who doesn’t play with Erie’s stars of Dane Fox, Connor Brown, Brendan Gaunce and Connor McDavid– ensured the win.

After picking off an errant pass by Sergei Tolchinsky, Burakovsky ran from the Soo defense, putting the puck between the pads of Matt Murray. Erie won 2-0. They can finish off the series tonight. The winner of the Erie – SSM series will play the winner of the powerhouse battle between the London Knights (including 2013 first-round picks Nikita Zadorov, Bo Horvat, and Max Domi) and Guelph Storm (featuring first-rounders Jason Dickinson and Kerby Rychel, as well as 2014 Draft 21st-ranked North American skater Robby Fabbri). Those teams are currently tied at one.