COCHRANE, Ont. – A Shadow Reuben goal with 9:12 remaining in regulation proved to be the decider as the Cochrane Crunch went on to pull out a narrow 3-1 decision over the visiting Soo Eagles in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League affair Friday at Tim Horton Events Centre.
Cochrane kicked off the night’s scoring 5:45 into the contest when Justin Bofshever bagged his fifth of the season to put the home side in front.
Sault Ste. Marie countered with the equalizer 10 minutes later as Dominic Skrelja potted his second goal in three games to knot the affair at 1-1 after one.
Neither side would connect in the scoreless middle stanza as the tie game carried over into the third period.
There Reuben picked up the difference midway through the frame as his second since joining the club.
The Crunch then secured the result with a Nicolas Flanders power play marker in the final minute to finish off the victory.
Zach Wickson in the Cochrane net made 28 stops to record the win Eagles starter Joseph Benedetto turned in an impressive 42-save performance in the suffering the narrow defeat for his side.