POWASSAN, Ont. – The Timmins Rock roared back from a one-goal second-period deficit and went on to defeat the Powassan Voodoos 5-2 Sunday in the third game of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League’s East Division final at the Powassan Sportsplex.
With the outcome, the Rock now lead the best-of-seven match-up 3-0 and will have a chance to close it out Tuesday at 7 p.m. in Game 4, which goes back at the Sportsplex.
Timmins created lots of chances in the opening 20 minutes, but could not put one past Powassan netminder Kannon Flageolle in a scoreless frame.
Picking up an early power play in the middle stanza, the Voodoos capitalized when defenceman Mitch Wilkie took a cross-ice pass from Alex Little and fired a shot through a maze and beat Rock goaltender Patrick Boivin.
Countering a few shifts later, the guests drew level at 4:19 when Lucas Piekarczyk wheeled in from the neutral zone and buried one top shelf over the glove of Flageolle.
Building on that, Timmins tacked on another less than a minute later as they came in on a two-on-one where Harry Clark moved between the circles and opted to shoot as he whipped a wrister into the left corner for his first of the postseason.
Putting the game away in the final frame, Nolan Ring began an outburst for the visitors by lifting in a backhand from close range at 5:15.
Coming right back, the Rock scored again as Ethan Pool powered his way down the left wing, then went hard to the net, and lifted one past Flageolle among a pile-up of players crashing through the crease.
Extending their cushion, while on a man advantage midway through the frame, Brandon Rossetti put an attempt towards the net from the right point that clipped off Lucas Lowe parked in front and found its way in.
Powassan did get one back in the late going when Ryan Patrick outworked a couple of defenders in close to get credit for his second tally of the postseason, in what proved to be the evening’s final tally.
NOJHL East Division Final
Game 1: Rock 4 Voodoos 3
Game 2: Rock 5 Voodoos 0
Game 3: Rock 5 Voodoos 2
Game 4: Tuesday, April 11 @ Powassan 7 p.m. (Powassan Sportsplex)
Game 5*: Wednesday, April 12 @ Timmins 7 p.m. (McIntyre Arena)
Game 6*: Saturday, April 15 @ Powassan 7 p.m. (Powassan Sportsplex)
Game 7*: Tuesday, April 18 @ Timmins 7 p.m. (McIntyre Arena)
*-if necessary
Timmins leads best-of-seven series 3-0
