ELLIOT LAKE, Ont. – The Elliot Lake Wildcats stormed out to a three-goal first period lead before the Rayside-Balfour Canadians roared back by scoring four times in the final 13 minutes of regulation to pull out a dramatic 5-4 come from behind victory in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League play Friday at Centennial Arena.
Elliot Lake opened the scoring four and a half minutes into the meeting when Jonathan Giancotti collected his ninth tally of the campaign.
It was more from the home side later in the initial frame when Hayden Daca delivered on the power play at 15:28.
Not down there, Connor Taylor put one in at even strength before the session was complete to make it a 3-0 lead.
In the second stanza, Rayside-Balfour cut into the deficit with just over four minutes left in it as Teegan Dumont notched his first NOJHL goal to put the guests on the board.
Third period play saw the Wildcats go up 4-1 courtesy of an Eric Vanderhoff power play marker at 6:39.
Going to the man advantage themselves right after that, Matthew Belanger began the Canadians comeback 27 seconds later.
They then added another moments later when Gavin Brown made it 4-3 game.
Rayside-Balfour kept coming and drew level midway through the final period off the stick of Oliver Smith.
Not done there, the Canadians completed their comeback with 5:29 remaining in regulation, getting the game-winner from Brady Maltais, who extended a consecutive game point streak to eight outings in a row.
Shots on goal saw RBC hold a 58-42 edge with Cameron Lamour getting the win while Jonathan Lemaire suffered the loss.
Game Photos courtesy of Northern Exposures Photography