If a tie is like kissing your sister, just imagine how the Canberra Knights must feel.

The Knights were forced to claw their way back for the second consecutive game as they settled for a 4-4 tie with the Newcastle Northstars in their AIHL game at the Phillip Ice House earlier tonight.

With only two points separating second and sixth place on the league standings, the game began tentatively, and was largely played out in the neutral zone as the teams combined for just 11 shots in a scoreless opening period.

Newcastle’s Rob Starke opened the scoring with six minutes gone in the second period only for the Knights’ Mike Funk to level the score with a low shot from the right point.

The Northstars would however go ahead again soon after. Catching the Knights on a line change, Don Nichols fed a pass to Casey Minson who broke in on an open net and fired top cheese.

As the game progressed into the third, another Newcastle goal and a penalty to Canberra’s Mark Rummukainen looked certain to doom the home side when a momentum swinging shorthanded goal by Matt Lehoczky sparked off another great offensive blitz by the Knights.

Throwing caution to the wind, the Knights played deep in the Newcastle zone and were caught out several times, only to be bailed out by netminder Dylan Smart who made several difficult saves.

Canberra would however wrestle the lead from the Northstars, blueliner Clint Lorteau squaring the game mid-way through the third before some quick reflexes by Shaun Fairweather put the Knights in front.

Camping at the crease when team mate Stuart Philps’ shot was saved by Newcastle goaltender Matt Ezzy, Fairweather pounced on the puck, stabbing it through Ezzy’s five-hole for a 4-3 Canberra lead.

But Francis Walker scored the game-tying goal for Newcastle with three minutes to go and the contest went into overtime.

Already 0-2 in overtime this season, the Northstars again allowed their opponents to dominate. And the Knights did just that, outshooting them 8-0. There was however no way through, as Ezzy stoned the Knights to steal a 4-4 tie for his team.

The Knights will take to the road against Adelaide and Melbourne before opening a home-and-home series with the Central Coast at the Phillip Ice House on June 4.