GALLERY: Rayside-Balfour rallies past Espanola

CHELMSFORD, Ont. – The Rayside-Balfour Canadians picked up a pair of goals, including the game-winner, and an assist from Eric Eschweiler to help them rally for an eventual 8-4 come from behind victory over the Espanola Express in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League action Thursday at Chelmsford Arena.

Both teams had chances in the first frame, but it was the visiting Express that picked up the lone marker of the session when Dylan Labelle notched his second of the season at 13:30.

Espanola then went up by a pair early in the second thanks to Zachary Matyasik only to see the Canadians’ Kyle Liinimaa answer that at 2:02.

The Express went back up by a pair five minutes later when Bret McInall converted on a power play chance.

From there the tallies continued with Eschweiler, during a man advantage, and Espanola’s Chase Lammi, at even strength, trading markers.

Battling back, Rayside-Balfour added two more before the period was out to knot the affair at 4-4 as Jett Leishman and Evan Krassey both found the back of the net.

The Canadians kept coming in the third and tacked on four more to complete the comeback starting with Eschweiler’s second of the night, during a power play at 4:21, which proved to be the difference maker.

They then finished it off by striking three times in the final five minutes on goals from Ethan Lavallee and a pair by Brady Maltais, including one shorthanded, to complete the comeback win.

Lavallee’s marker saw the defenceman score for a fifth straight outing.

In all, five different skaters had multi-point evenings for the hosts.

Shots on goal saw the Express hold the edge by a 47-44 count with Sebastien Plamondon picking up the win while Joel Rainville suffered the loss.