The Athens Aeros, after downing the Gananoque Islanders 3-2 on Sunday night, are just one win away from becoming the first team to win four consecutive Eastern Ontario Junior Hockey League Rideau Division playoff crowns since the Rideau-St. Lawrence and St. Lawrence junior B leagues merged 26 seasons ago.

The Aeros, fuelled by three second-period goals, opened a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven Rideau final. Game 5 is Tuesday night in Athens at 7:30 p.m.

After the teams were scoreless in the first period, rookie all-star Shane Hiley had a hand in all three of Athens' second- period goals. He scored the first two goals, just 2:31 apart in the early going, and assisted on Alex MacLean's goal with 2:14 left in the middle frame that made the score 3-1.

It was only the second playoff game in which Hiley has scored (for a total of five goals in 10 games). He netted 28 goals in 30 regular-season games.

Scoring both of Gananoque's goals was Chris Smith, who has emerged as easily the team's top offensive threat in the playoffs with 13 goals and 20 points in 11 games. Next in line is Jon Harris, with eight goals and 14 points. Between the two of them, they've scored half of the team's 42 playoffs goals.

Gan outshot Athens 40-36 in the game, including 20-12 in the first period and 10-6 in the third, but Erik Miksik was solid once again, winning for the fifth time in his past six starts overall. He has given up just nine goals in that span and has an overall playoff GAA of 1.85 in 10 games.