KIRKLAND LAKE, Ont. – A four-goal first period flurry and a trio of shorthanded tallies helped send the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners on their way as they went on derail the Espanola Express 8-1 in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League encounter Friday at Joe Mavrinac Community Complex.
Despite being down a skater midway through the opening frame, it was Kyler Campbell who struck shorthanded to record his initial NOJHL tally and help send Kirkland Lake on their way.
Campbell then tacked on his second of the evening with an even strength effort at 16:55.
The Gold Miners came right back and added another moments later with Casey Gerstein also notched his opening league marker to extend the lead.
Not done there, the hosts got another man-down effort just before the horn sounded as Cameron Neaylon made it 4-0 after one.
An early second period power play saw the hosts continue to click offensively as they saw Connor Van Weelie pick up his third goal of the campaign.
After Max Newnam put Kirkland Lake up by six, Espanola got on the board nearly nine minutes into the middle session as Zachary Matyasik clicked for a third time in September.
However, the Gold Miners’ Nicholas Wagner added his first of the season to make it 7-1 after two.
Kirkland Lake’s penalty killers added another shorthanded effort early in the third on a Landis Antonic marker in the opening moments, which wrapped up the evening’s scoring.
Kohly Reddy in the Gold Miners net made 36 stops in a winning cause.
Andrew Rocha started for the Express and suffered the setback, giving up six on 30 chances while Joel Rainville saved 20 of 22 in relief.
Of note, the eight goals collected by the Gold Miners, was the most they have scored in a single game since January 10, 2018.
Game Photos courtesy of CapturingTheMoment.ca