Pictou County Scotians teammates Julian Pealotta, 6, and Fraser Roddick, 16, eye a loose puck during the third period of their Nova Scotia Junior Hockey League playoff game against the Cumberland County Cool Blues. The Blues won the game 6-5 to win their

It was almost like a year ago.
The Pictou County Scotians were ousted in four straight games by the Cumberland County Cool Blues.
Only this time, it was in the first round of their Nova Scotia Junior Hockey League playoffs.
The Blues edged the Scotians 6-5 Sunday in Trenton to sweep their opening best-of-seven Syd Rowe Division semifinal series in four games.
Cumberland defeated the Scotians in four straight games in last year’s league championship series.
“Every time, it came down to two minutes of a hockey game,” said Scotians’ head coach George Frazee. “We know we lost to a very good team. The only difference with the Blues this year from last year is that they have more depth. We could match their first two lines, but we couldn’t match them after that.”
Injuries had something to do with that, with Chase Kirkendall out with varying ailments.
After losing the first three games handily, the Scotians gave the Blues all they could handle Sunday.
The Blues answered goals by Matt Williams and Neil Pashkoski in the first period with two of their own, but Julian Pealotta put the Scotians ahead 3-2 with 50 seconds left in the opening frame.
The Blues tied the game in the second period, but Williams’ second goal of the night restored the Scotians’ lead.
The Blues went ahead 5-4 before Evan Brannon tied the game with 6:23 left in the third period.
Cumberland notched the winner with 45 seconds remaining in the third period.
The Scotians were outshot 43-36.
After losing the first two games handily, the Scotians made it closer in the last two games, including the Blues’ 4-2 victory Friday in Springhill.
Kirk Harris scored for the Scotians to draw them even in the first period before the Blues scored once in the second period and twice in the third for a 4-1 lead.
Jason Pitts tallied for the Scotians with 23 seconds left in the third period.
The Blues outshot the Scotians 47-27.
Like a year ago, Frazee was non-committal about returning to the Scotians next season, although he noted the Scotians lose just four players to ineligibility due to overage.
Frazee said he would take several weeks off to consider his future.