TIMMINS, Ont. – Riding the strength of supplying five-man advantage markers, the Timmins Rock recorded their seventh straight victory Sunday as they went on to down the French River Rapids 8-2 in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League afternoon affair at McIntyre Arena.
Connecting on the tail-end of a power play in the latter stages of the first period, the Rock opened the scoring when Matteo Paradiso took a feed in the slot from Kimani Eccleston and whipped it past Rapids’ netminder Matis Bureau-Morel.
That gives both forward points in three straight outings for the club.
French River had a solid chance to tie it in the final minute of the frame when Jonah Gareau forced a turnover while his club was shorthanded and went in alone only to be denied by Timmins’ goalkeeper Ayden Mullen.
Still up a skater to begin the second stanza, the home side converted quickly as Diego Da Silva took a pass from Braedyn Cyr and wired it in from the left circle.
A third extra-man effort for the Rock had them break out quickly out of the their own zone that led to Brant Romaniuk darting down the wing then spotting Lucas Lowe driving to the net, who moved to his right and tucked in his chance.
That featured Romaniuk running a point streak to nine while Lowe’s goal sees him improve to a six-game heater.
The Rapids got one back at 11:39 off a Bryson Villeneuve dump in that caromed off the end boards and out in front that Mullen could only get a piece of, that allowed the Villeneuve to swat it in.
Going back to work on the power play, Timmins tallied for a fourth time on special teams as Da Silva corralled a Romaniuk set-up and pumped in his second of the day.
Potting another on the next shift, the Rock made it 5-1 at even strength with Victor Hourtouat snapping one by Kieran Caughran who had just entered in relief for the visitors.
Wrapping it up early in the final frame, Lowe picked off a clearing attempt then moved in quickly and dished it over to Romaniuk, who was left to tap in a backhand into the open corner on Bureau-Morel who had re-entered the game to commence the session.
More from Lowe saw him supply PPG No. 5 for Timmins at 2:54 as he worked through a pair of defenders then while driving in deposited in his chance.
That matched the league season-high for power play goals in a game this season.
French River got one back a couple of shifts later thanks to another from Villeneuve as he slammed in a giveaway by Mullen for a shorthanded tally into the gaping cage.
The Lowe-Romaniuk combo went back to work once more with the latter whipping in his team-leading 19th goal of the season to round out the scoring.
Game Photos:
Thomas Perry – The Daily Press/Postmedia Network
