Photos: Allyson Demers
KIRKLAND LAKE, Ont. – A Lex Lamontagne one-timer from between the circles 4:39 into the third period proved to be the game-winner Friday as the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners skated to a 4-2 triumph over the Powassan Voodoos in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League play at Joe Mavrinac Community Complex.
Connecting first, the Gold Miners opened the scoring 7:20 into the contest when Owen O’Grady dished off a pass from down low in front that Ben Lyons snagged and ripped a short-side wrist shot past Voodoos’ netminder Cole Vreugdenhil.
Remaining 1-0 Kirkland Lake into the second stanza, Powassan tied it on the power play at 12:32, thanks to Caleb Dawson collecting his 15th tally of the campaign as he slammed in a feed put across from Ryan Saginaw before goalkeeper Glen McInnes could get across his crease to keep it out.
Action in the third saw the visitors go in front early while shorthanded as Ben Gisonni banked the puck off the boards out of his zone that allowed Owen Head to dart in alone on a breakaway that he took left-to-right and tucked through McInnes.
Going right back to work on the man advantage, Daniel Rusu pulled the home side even moments later by working a give-and-go with Lyons before wiring in a chance from the slot on a five-on-three.
Building on that, Kirkland Lake went in front 3-2 as Lamontagne took a pass across from Matthew Neuman and promptly whipped it in.
Getting Vreugdenhil out for an extra attacker in an effort to pull even was nullified by a strong forecheck courtesy of Nathan Harper that saw him pressure a turnover, that allowed him to seal the victory with an empty netter in the late going to wrap up the result.
The win raises the Gold Miners’ record to 11-18-0-3, while the loss ends a seven-game winning streak for the Voodoos who fall to 19-8-0-2.
