Chase Sampson scored a power-play goal in overtime to lift the Riverview Redmen to a 4-3 win over the Glace Bay Panthers in the opening game of the Cape Breton High School Hockey League championship series.

Sampson’s heroics were set up after Glace Bay’s Matthew Crane scored late in the third period to knot the contest at 3-3 in Game 1 of the best-of-five series played at the County Recreation Centre in Coxheath on Monday.

The Panthers actually had the first extra-frame opportunity with the man advantage after Sampson was sent to the penalty box for hooking. But before his penalty was fully expired, Glace Bay was called for too many men on the ice. Sampson returned to the ice and soon thereafter scored the game winner.

Riverview outshot Glace Bay 27-26. Redmen goalie Michael MacMullen earned the win, while the Panthers Colton Boutilier was tagged with the loss.

Game 2 is set for the Canada Games Complex on Thursday at 6:10 p.m., while Game 3 is scheduled for Friday at 7 p.m. at the County Arena.