Enjoying the best first period of their current six-game losing streak and stellar cage work from Dillon Branco, Milton pushed the conference leaders — who’ve now won 11 straight — to overtime before being vanquished 3-2 Saturday at Alcott Arena.

“It’s a point… a big one on the road and against the top team,” said head coach Bill McDougall, whose team now sits sixth at 5-6-1-1.

While encouraged by two early goals and a better overall effort clearing the zone, the IceHawks’ first-year bench boss admits there’s been a bit too much reliance on his goalie to keep things close.

“Dillon’s the best goalie in the league. We’re lucky to have him.”

That was certainly the case Saturday, with Branco turning back about 50 shots and serving as the only line of defence for significant stretches of the last two periods.

Milton’s bid to upset its neighbouring rivals was finally squashed two-and-a-half minutes into sudden death, with an upstairs deposit by Kyle Essery. He also scored in the final minute of the first, after the IceHawks jumped out to a 2-0 lead on top corner shots by Justin

Periera and Justin Basso. That early production was especially pleasing to McDougall after a string of fruitless first periods. Providing just as much optimism was the return of veterans Allen Petretic and Dean Kulla, whose long-awaited comeback from a head injury should add to the club’s grit and bolster its sub-par face-off efficiency.

Said McDougall, “Dean’s still not quite in peak shape yet, but he’s definitely going to help us.”

Kulla did just that in his first game back Friday, recording a powerplay marker and adding an assist.

Unfortunately his efforts came in a too-little-too-late showing for the IceHawks, who didn’t get on the board until the final few minutes of play and fell 5-2 to the second-place Burlington Cougars.

The visitors mounted a 4-0 lead after a scoreless opening frame, and sealed the deal with an empty netter. Tyler Stothers had a goal and an assist and Kevin Caister drew two helpers.

The IceHawks visit the mid-pack Brampton Capitals tomorrow and host Georgetown Friday at 7:30 p. m. at Memorial Arena.