Photos: Allyson Demers
KIRKLAND LAKE, Ont. – The Elliot Lake Red Wings saw Silas Crawford tally twice in the second period, including collecting the game-winner, as part of a 5-2 triumph over the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners Friday a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League contest at Joe Mavrinac Community Complex.
Notching the night’s opening tally, Elliot Lake broke out of their own zone and saw Sam Road move in on the right wing and snap one upstairs over the glove of Kirkland Lake starter Zachary Reddy, nearly six minutes into the proceedings.
Going to the power play later in the first frame, the Red Wings went up by a pair when Kaden Laverdiere cruised into Gold Miners territory and while using a defender as a screen, he whipped one into the right corner at 12:20.
Cutting into the deficit early in the middle stanza, Kirkland Lake’s Eric de Repentigny broke in untouched from the blueline and calmly outwaited Elliot Lake goaltender Cameron Smith and made a couple of quick dekes before sliding one in past his outstretched pad and into the lower portion of the net.
Regaining their two-goal cushion midway through the match-up, the Red Wings’ Crawford came out from behind the net and slid a shot along the ice that eluded Reddy.
It was more from the visitors just under three minutes later when Crawford struck again after finding himself unguarded in front where he used some crafty stickhandling at the top of the crease prior to tucking the puck in.
Getting a fifth on the night, prior to the second intermission, Brodie Kearns went top shelf from the left of Reddy to make it 5-1 after two.
In the third, Ryan Evenhuis converted during a man advantage for Kirkland Lake at 8:47, however that proved to be the night’s final goal as the Red Wings skated away with the road victory.
Smith got the win for the guests while Reddy suffered the loss and affiliate back-up Thomas Armstrong was spotless in early 25 minutes of relief.
