BOURNE – Canton and Milton skated to a 2-2 tie in December; since then, No. 3 Canton (22-1-1) has won 20 straight.

No. 20 was a 5-2 win Wednesday over No. 6 Milton in the Division 2 Round of Eight at Gallo Ice Arena. Captain Travis Thomas netted two third-period goals to wrap it for the Bulldogs and send Canton back to the final four for the first time since their state title win in 2023.

“Milton is certainly one of the best teams we’ve seen all year. There is a lot of talent and skill over there,” said Canton head coach, Brian Shuman. “We knew if we could get all four lines going – and we did – eventually we would be able to generate some consistent play in their zone.”

The teams were physical again and goals were aplenty as Gavin O’Toole put Canton up 1-0 on an assist from the boards from fellow freshman Brayden Dickie at 4:46.

Jack Prince pounced on a rebound off the stick of Owen O’Donoghue to answer right back for Milton at 6:55.

The teams exchanged goals again later in the period as Joey Ryan put the Bulldogs on his back with a goal at 11:23 of the first off a defensive skate deflection out front.

Canton celebrated a little early on a Ryan Eldrick snipe that put the Bulldogs up 3-1 but a high sticking penalty waved off the goal; Milton took advantage with a power play goal with only 1:26 left in the period and the 2-2 momentum heading into the lockers.

But Canton had another goal waved off as Teddy Shuman popped home a rebound in front of the crease to start the second period; the tally was blown dead by the referees as the puck was initially lost under a few players in front.

Shuman kept at it and found the back of the net for his third goal of the playoffs midway through the second for the eventual game-winner.

The pivotal moment was at the end of the period as Canton picked up their third penalty of the game on a tripping violation. Milton was already stoked with a power-play goal and 1:31 of the penalty minutes carried over to start the third. The tenuous one-goal Canton cushion was on the line.

But Thomas took over, picking up a neutral zone loose puck for the give-and-go with Ryan resulting in a shorthanded goal 35 seconds into the final period. Thomas had the pretty flip for the top shelf tally from outside the left post that took the sails out of the Wildcats.

“The real difference in the two games is they are a really good team. They are a great program for a reason and what tilted it was that special teams goal,” said Milton head coach, Nick Bligh. “The shorthanded goal maybe deflated us more than it should have but it was just a great hockey game.

Milton dominated the shots on goal battle to the tune of 41-17 and in the end, Thomas punctuated the victory with the empty netter with 1:53 left to play in regulation.

“We just wanted to kill (the penalty) off, but we get a shorty there so credit to Joey Ryan and Travis as they play so well together, they just know where each other are. Such a big goal,” said Shuman. “This win means everything. You have a lot of guys in there that have played a lot together. They put a lot of pressure on themselves, they felt the pressure in the first period, but they are ecstatic to be back in the Final Four.