AUBURN — The Twin City Thunder are on the verge of a playoff berth.

Wednesday afternoon, the Thunder defeated the Boston Advantage 3-2 in overtime in a USPHL National Collegiate Development Conference North Division game at Norway Savings Bank Arena.

“It was a good team win and we are one step closer to playoffs,” Thunder forward Sam Stitz, who had a goal and an assist, said.

The fourth-place Thunder (22-17-6, 50 points) have a four-point advantage over the fifth-place Northern Cyclones (21-21-4 46 points) for the final playoff spot in the North Division.

Those two teams meet Saturday, but if the Cyclones lose to the Islanders Hockey Club on Friday, Saturday’s game won’t matter as the Thunder will have already clinched the final playoff spot.

“It will give an X next to our name (in the standings if Northern Cyclones lose Friday),” Hodge said. “We aren’t counting on that; we are counting on them winning and coming in on Saturday trying to (tie us in the standings).”

The Thunder also have games at the Jr. Bruins on Sunday and South Shore Kings on Monday to finish the regular season.

As for Wednesday’s game, the loss for the Advantage (21-22-3, 45 points) ended their playoff hopes, but they made a late dash to try to extend their season.

The Thunder held a 2-0 lead late in the third period, but the Advantage scored two late goals to force overtime. Arik Altman found Luke Panchisin on a 2-on-1 to beat Thunder goalie Brody Haynes (32 saves) with 3:05 remaining in the period to cut the deficit to 2-1.

Tony Achile set up Boston’s second goal 49 seconds later by finding Trevor Smith for his 12th goal of the season. Cade Helmar had secondary assists on both goals.

Hodge didn’t think the Thunder had their A-game.

“Today, our coaching staff thought some players struggled,” Hodge said. “They didn’t have it. Again, we got the two points. I thought we played two very good games over the weekend, but we lost both (to the New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs), and tonight I thought we didn’t play well, but we won.”

The Thunder had a late power play in the final two minutes in the game but couldn’t convert as the man-advantage extended into the overtime session.

Lewiston native and former St. Dom’s standout Dom Chasse — who played his high school hockey home games at the Auburn arena — ended the game when Stitz fed him a pass on a 2-on-1 and Chasse ripped a shot past Connor Bradford (42 saves), who sprawled out to try and make the save for the Advantage.

“It was very exciting to score that goal to win that game,” Chasse said. “Yes, it was (the biggest goal I have scored at Norway Savings Bank Arena).”

Midway through the first period, Stitz skated to the slot, where he received a pass from Matt Cole before burying the shot to give Twin City a 1-0 lead. Defenseman Trenton Skaggs had the assist.

“It helped get all the boys (going) and confidence for later in the game,” Stitz said of getting the early lead.

After the goal, the Advantage started to get offensive zone time, but Haynes made all 14 saves in the period.

The Thunder almost made it 2-0 at the end of the first period on the power play. The puck ricocheted off the post and crossbar but never crossed the goal line.

Boston had a 5-on-3 power play in the second period but couldn’t capitalize on the chance.

The Advantage almost scored shorthanded late in the middle frame, but the Thunder defensemen didn’t allow a shot.

The Thunder couldn’t capitalize on the power play, but five seconds after it ended, forward Tristan Rand’s shot from the slot found its way past Bradford with 23.5 seconds remaining in the second period. Caden Smith had the assist.

NEWS AND NOTES

• Trenton Skaggs made his college commitment this week and will be attending Fitchburg State University in Fitchburg, Massachusetts.

Skaggs, who turns 20 next Tuesday, has a goal and five assists in 28 games this season for the Thunder.

Fitchburg State plays in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference, a Division III conference, and finished 17-6-1 this season.

• The Thunder have signed Wesly Brunello to a tender contract.

The 18-year-old defenseman has three goals and seven assists in 28 games with Lakeville North High School in Minnesota.

A tender is a contract that gives a team a player’s USPHL NCDC rights, and the player cannot be drafted or signed by another NCDC team. The player, however, can sign with another team in another junior league.

• Twin City’s game against the Northern Cyclones on Saturday has been moved from Norway Savings Bank Arena because of a scheduling conflict to Biddeford Ice Arena at 2:50 p.m.

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