Tassone double OT hero as Elliot Lake evens series with Sudbury

NORTHERN ONTARIO JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE

NOJHL COMMUNICATIONS
MEDIA RELEASE

Release Date: Monday, March 18, 2013

Tassone double OT hero as Elliot Lake evens series with Sudbury

ELLIOT LAKE – A Nicholas Tassone goal 7:31 into the second overtime period lifted the Elliot Lake Bobcats to a 4-3 victory over the Sudbury Nickel Barons Monday in game 2 of their first round Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League playoff series at Centennial Arena.

With the result the best-of-seven series is now tied 1-1 heading into game 3 Wednesday at McClelland Arena in Copper Cliff at 7:30 p.m.

The first-ever home playoff contest in the NOJHL for the Bobcats didn’t start out as they hoped as Sudbury’s Bradley Bell beat Elliot Lake starter Cory Simic with the only goal of the opening session.

However the Bobcats bounced back in the middle frame getting tallies 61 seconds apart from Brian Hennessey and Brad Holman to tie it and then take the lead.

The Nickel Barons responded late in the stanza as Brett Dusick levelled the proceedings to knot the affair after 40 minutes.

Special teams allowed the hosts to go back on top in the third as Steve Gaul connected on the power play at 6:29.

Once again though, the seesaw affair was tied yet again as Andre Comtois notched the equalizer with 9:36 remaining in regulation.

The score stayed that way to the end of the final period and through the first OT session.

Heading to period No. 5 on the night, Tassone would end it as he scooped up his own rebound on the left side and snapped the game-winner past Nickel Barons netminder Alex Laino to finalize the back and forth affair.

Simic was sensational for Elliot Lake finishing with 55 saves on the night in picking up the win.

Laino was equally as solid, despite the setback, ending with 43 stops along the way.

NOJHL Playoffs: Round 1
Series A
No. 2 Soo Thunderbirds vs. No. 7 Abitibi Eskimos
Thunderbirds lead best-of-seven series 2-0

Game 1: Soo 9 Abitibi 2
Game 2: Soo 7 Abitibi 5
Game 3:
Saturday, March 23 @ Iroquois Falls 7:30 p.m. (Jus Jordan)
Game 4: Sunday, March 24 @ Iroquois Falls 2 p.m. (Jus Jordan)
Game 5*: Monday, March 25 @ Sault Ste. Marie 7:30 p.m. (Essar Centre)
Game 6*: Tuesday, March 26 @ Iroquois Falls 7:30 p.m. (Jus Jordan)
Game 7*: Wednesday, March 27 @ Sault Ste. Marie 7:30 p.m. (Arena – T.B.A.)

*-If necessary

Series B
No. 3 Sudbury Nickel Barons vs. No. 6 Elliot Lake Bobcats
Best-of-seven series tied 1-1

Game 1: Sudbury 7 Elliot Lake 4
Game 2: Elliot Lake 4 Sudbury 3 (2OT)

Game 3: Wednesday, March 20 @ Sudbury 7:30 p.m. (McClelland Arena)
Game 4: Friday, March 22 @ Elliot Lake 7:30 p.m. (Centennial Arena)
Game 5: Saturday, March 23 @ Sudbury 7:30 p.m. (McClelland Arena)
Game 6*: Sunday, March 24 @ Elliot Lake 7:30 p.m. (Centennial Arena)
Game 7*: Wednesday, March 27 @ Sudbury 7:30 p.m. (McClelland Arena)

*-If necessary

Series C
No. 4 Kirkland Lake Gold Miners vs. No. 5 Blind River Beavers
Gold Miners lead best-of-seven series 2-0

Game 1: Kirkland Lake 5 Blind River 2
Game 2: Kirkland Lake 4 Blind River 1

Game 3: Thursday, March 21 @ Blind River 7 p.m. (Community Centre)
Game 4: Friday, March 22 @ Blind River 7 p.m. (Community Centre)
Game 5*: Saturday, March 23 @ Blind River 7 p.m. (Community Centre)
Game 6*: Tuesday, March 26 @ Kirkland Lake 7:30 p.m. (Joe Mavrinac)
Game 7*: Wednesday, March 27 @ Kirkland Lake 7:30 p.m. (Joe Mavrinac)

*-If necessary

Bye: No. 1 North Bay Trappers (Regular season winner)