KIRKLAND LAKE, ON – Luc Soares scored over 12 minutes into overtime as he deflected a shot past Matt Young for the game winner as the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners avoided elimination with a 5-4 win over the Powassan Voodoos in game 5 of the best-of-seven series.
The Voodoos made it tough on the defending NOJHL champions who came in down 3-1 in the series. Ryan Aubertin and Soares gave the Miners an early 2-0 lead in the opening period. However, Jake Staples, the Voodoos hero with a late game winner in game 4, scored a power play marker to make it 2-1 after 20 minutes.
Aubertin, whose brother Jon played for 2 seasons with the North Bay Jr. Trappers, got his second of the game early in the second to regain the two-goal spread.
Staples scored his second of the game to cut the lead to 3-2. However, late in the second Ethan Strong ripped a wrist shot past Matt Young to take a 4-2 lead into the second intermission.
Michael Silveri cut the lead back to one midway through the final frame.
With less than 2 minutes left in regulation, Gold Miners defenceman Jamey Lauzon cut Kyle Moore with a high stick and was handed a double minor. That set up for Beau Peltier’s power play marker with 13 seconds left in regulation to make it 4-4.
The Voodoos actually started the overtime period with a 1:47 powerplay due to the double minor to Lauzon. However, they were unable to cash in.
Game 6 will take place back in Powassan on Sunday night. Puck drop is set for 7:30 p.m. at the Sportsplex.
