The Frontenacs struck first as Petes goaltender Liam Sztuska opted to play the puck around his net and was picked up by Kingston’s Ethan Miedema. He took a sharp-angle shot but was saved. Matthew Soto quickly snapped it on the rebound and got it through for a 1-0 lead.
Peterborough got a powerplay roughly halfway through the period to try to get the equalizer. Quinton Pagé ripped a shot but was stopped by Kingston goaltender Mason Vaccari. However, Lefebvre had a juicy rebound and buried it at a wide-open net for a 1-1 tie.
The visitors got a powerplay opportunity late in the first frame. They regained the lead after Jacob Battaglia circled the offensive zone and shot against the grain, top corner to restore Kingston’s lead, 2-1.
Lefebvre responded once again for the Petes late in the second period on the man advantage. Nico Addy made a long pass in the offensive zone and Lefebvre's tip-in tied the game at two apiece heading into the third period.
The Petes earned their first lead of the game as Ryder Macintyre threw one at the net and Cam Gauvreau tipped it in front and scored for a 3-2 lead.
Kingston pulled their goalie with less than two minutes left in the game but Braydon McCallum got the puck in the defensive zone and sent it nearly 200 feet for the empty-net goal.
The Frontenacs kept things interesting. With the goalie still pulled, a point shot got deflected and created a loose puck situation. Both teams scrambled for it and Gabriel Frasca was able to get it past Sztuska for a 4-3 game with 1:26 left in regulation.
Lefebvre put the game out of reach, taking a shot from the neutral zone and buried the empty-netter for his first career OHL hat trick and a 5-3 Petes win.
The Frontenacs can get revenge on the Petes when the two teams head to Kingston on Friday for a 7 p.m. game at the Slush Puppie Place.
