Wildcats force deciding game in series vs. Eagles on Meguinis’ OT winner

NORTHERN ONTARIO JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE

NOJHL NETWORK MEDIA UPDATE

Release Date: Saturday, March 11, 2017

Wildcats force deciding game in series vs. Eagles on Meguinis’ OT winner

ELLIOT LAKE, Ont. – A Leejay Meguinis power play goal 5:04 into overtime was the difference as the Elliot Lake Wildcats pulled out a dramatic 4-3 victory over the Soo Eagles Saturday in Game 2 of their Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League West Division quarter-final at Centennial Arena.

With the outcome, the best-of-three series is tied 1-1 and will now be decided in Game 3, which goes Tuesday evening at 7:30 p.m. at Pullar Stadium in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.

Elliot Lake also got off to a good start Saturday, getting the night’s opening tally 4:17 into the contest on a Jacob Kelly effort.

The Eagles countered by drawing level just over eight minutes later thanks to Roman Gaudet.

Gaudet then added another a couple shifts later to put the visitors up by one.

The Wildcats would knot the affair before the frame was complete however with Curtis Rawn notching the equalizer at 17:07.

The lone marker of the second session came at 14:57 with William Casey giving the Soo a 3-2 lead after two periods of play.

Elliot Lake rallied to force extra time with 4:06 remaining in regulation as Evan Spencer picked up his first NOJHL playoff marker.

The Wildcats began OT shorthanded for the first 90 seconds, but successfully killed off the man-down situation.

Then with a power play of their own, the home side pulled out the win after Elliot Lake captain Troy Button snapped a shot towards the net from the left point that found its way to Menuinis in the slot, who spun and fired the game-winner past Soo starter Kade Phipps, much to the delight of the Centennial Arena faithful.

Brennan Kelly supplied two assists for the Wildcats in the triumph.

Elliot Lake netminder Matt Kostiw was called upon to make 43 stops to record the win while Phipps faced 40 attempts in defeat for the Eagles.

Tuesday’s Game 3, along with all NOJHL playoff contests. will be streamed live online via HockeyTV.com.

WEST DIVISION QUARTER-FINAL
No. 4 Soo Eagles vs. No. 5 Elliot Lake Wildcats
Best-of-three series tied 1-1
Game 1: Soo Eagles 4 Elliot Lake 1
Game 2: Elliot Lake 4 Soo Eagles 3 (OT)
Game 3: Tuesday, March 14 @ Soo Eagles 7:30 p.m. (Pullar Stadium)