Photos: Allyson Demers
KIRKLAND LAKE, Ont. – A Mathieu Comeau marker, just over a minute into overtime, was the difference as the Hearst Lumberjacks edged the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners 3-2 in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League action Friday at Joe Mavrinac Community Complex.
Kirkland Lake began the scoring in the latter stages of the first period when Inde Abresch put a one-handed feed across to Noah Woodard who picked the bottom left corner on Hearst starter Russ Decoste for his team-leading 16th tally of the season.
Tying it up in the final moments of the frame, the Lumberjacks Jack Robinson was left with a tap-in into the open net after a Comeau backhand had initially been stopped by a diving Graydon Mole.
Second period play saw the home side retake the lead off a Jacob Lamoureux blast during a man advantage.
The visitors answered that with another late marker as they controlled a draw deep in Kirkland Lake territory which led to some nice passing, that allowed Noah Janicki to convert from in close.
In the third, a goaltending change saw Trent Boryszczuk commence the session for the Gold Miners.
Battling hard in the frame, the clubs skated to a scoreless period, to send it to OT.
In extra time, Comeau won it as he drove past a defender on the right side and took the play wide before tucking in the game-winner past a sprawled Boryszczuk.
The victory helps Hearst improve to 19-11-3-2 on the season, while with a point in defeat, Kirkland Lake’s record goes to 7-24-4-1.
“Highlight of the Night” – NOJHL YouTube Channel
