POWASSAN, Ont. – Making the most of their opportunities Timmins Rock, picked up the game-winner on a power play goal from affiliate player Kobe Barrette, to surprise the Powassan Voodoos 5-2 Saturday in Game 2 of their Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League East Division semifinal at the Powassan Sportsplex.
With the result this best-of-seven series is now tied 1-1 as the action now shifts to McIntyre Arena in Timmins for Game 3 Tuesday at 7 p.m.
Like in Game 1, the Rock were the first to get on the board with Riley Brosseau connecting on the man advantage 12 minutes into the contest.
Powassan would tie it at 15:20 compliments of their leading scorer, Tyson Gilmour, who picked up his first of the postseason.
However the visitors came right back to regain the lead just 18 seconds later as Wayne Mathieu finished off the work of Will Caston and Brousseau.
Timmins’ special teams picked up another goal with Barrette converting on the man advantage 6:12 into the middle session.
After Quintin Loon-Stewardson brought Powassan back to within one, the visitors countered once more with Tyler Gilberds making no mistake on a breakaway to make it 4-2 Rock with half a game to play.
Skating five-on-four to begin the third, Timmins kept ticking as Jun Yi Zhong converted 48 seconds while up a man to make it 5-2 and round out the scoring.
Jared Hester and Jordan Picard had two assists each for the victorious side.
Rock goaltender Tyler Masternak made 25 saves to pick-up up the win and put an end to the Voodoos` 13-game NOJHL playoff winning streak.
Voodoos’ netminder Julian Galloway faced 34 shots in defeat.
NOJHL Playoffs
Series C
East Division semifinal
No. 1 Powassan Voodoos vs. No. 5 Timmins Rock
Best-of-seven series tied 1-1
Game 1: Powassan 5 Timmins 2
Game 2: Timmins 5 Powassan 2
Game 3: Tuesday, March 20 @ Timmins 7 p.m. (McIntyre)
Game 4: Wednesday, March 21 @ Timmins 7 p.m. (McIntyre)
Game 5: Friday, March 23 @ Powassan 7 p.m. (Sportsplex)
Game 6*: Sunday, March 25 @ Timmins 7 p.m. (McIntyre)
Game7*: Tuesday, March 27 @ Powassan 7 p.m. (Sportsplex)
*- if necessary