TIMMINS, Ont. – The Powassan Voodoos capped of a perfect three-game road trip with a third win in as many days as they topped the Timmins Rock 4-2 Sunday afternoon in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League action at McIntyre Arena.
Striking first, Powassan came out quickly in transition after a faceoff in their own zone and saw Liam Serviss dart up ice with speed and eventually send a cross-ice feed over to Ryan Patrick, who put one past Timmins’ starter Patrick Boivin, half-way through the opening period.
Adding another late in the frame, the Voodoos kept a play in Rock territory, which allowed Patrick to make a one-handed push ahead with his stick in front, that was put into the open side by Kaedyn Long at 17:47.
A two-man advantage early in the second stanza helped the home side get right back in it as defenceman Kenyon Nyman took the puck from the side boards into the high slot where he fired a low shot that got under Powassan goalkeeper Kannon Flageolle at 4:37.
Timmins then tied it less than five minutes later, while skating four aside, with captain Nicolas Pigeon dashing down the left wing before using a partial toe-drag and ripping one upstairs on Flageolle.
Up a skater themselves, Powassan went back on top at 12:25 compliments of Tucker Shields, who whistled one into the top corner from right circle over sliding Rock defenceman, who was without a stick, and Boivin.
Moving to the late going of the third period, the Timmins had a glorious chance to tie it in the final minute as they were awarded a penalty shot, after it was deemed the Voodoos had intentionally knocked the net off its moorings.
Taking it was Rock captain Nicolas Pigeon, but after skating in, he lost control of the puck at the last moment, allowing Flageolle to make an easy save.
Right after that, the Voodoos controlled the draw and used a give-and-go behind the net before eventually sending it ahead where Shields won a race down the right wing and proceeded to wrap-up the result by putting one high into an empty net to round the day’s scoring, with 45 seconds remaining.
The result also sees Powassan win their fifth straight, improving to 13-6-0-0 overall, as well as moving past Timmins into a tie for first place in the NOJHL’s East Division with the Hearst Lumberjacks at 26 points apiece.
In defeat, the Rock fell to 11-5-2-1 on the year.
“Highlight of the Night” – NOJHL YouTube Channel
Game Photos:
Thomas Perry – The Daily Press/Postmedia Network