Kirkland Lake rallies to edge Espanola 3-2 Saturday in PBC play in Iroquois Falls

IROQUOIS FALLS, Ont. – A Matthew Reynolds marker in the latter stages of the second period was the difference maker as the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners rallied for a 3-2 win over the Espanola Express Saturday as part of the Polar Bear Classic at Jus Jordan Arena in Iroquois Falls.

The result means Kirkland Lake finishes third overall in the round robin standings and will now meet the Cochrane Crunch Sunday at noon in semifinal action at Tim Horton Event Centre in Cochrane while fourth place Espanola will take on the No. 1 Kingston Voyageurs in the other semifinal match-up, which also goes at noon Sunday with Jus Jordan Arena serving as the venue in that one.

Saturday’s match-up in Iroquois Falls saw the Express start strong as they grabbed a 2-0 first period lead on tallies from Jace Pitawanakwat and Sam Blumberger, who connected on a power play chance.

The Gold Miners got some life late in the opening frame as Vito Sica scored with 10 seconds left in the frame to put his side on the board.

Kirkland Lake then tied it five and a half minutes into the second on a Sam Elwood effort.

They then completed their rally with 2:26 left in the stanza on Reynolds’ game-winner.

Aidan Curry started for the Gold Miners and played the first period stopping four of six attempts.

Ty Sparling entered to begin the second and picked up the win in relief handling all 12 shots he faced along the way.

Jacob Hutchings faced 39 attempts in the narrow defeat in the Express net.

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