GALLERY: Rock hold off late Lumberjacks push

TIMMINS, Ont. – The Timmins Rock saw Derek Seguin tally twice before eventually holding off the Hearst Lumberjacks 3-2 in a hard-fought Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League encounter Tuesday night at McIntyre Arena.

Pressing the pace throughout the first period, Timmins was eventually rewarded 13 and a half minutes into things when Rock captain Seguin chopped in a backhand from in close over the pad of Hearst netminder Liam Oxner, following some strong work by Henry Brock.

Moving to the middle stanza, the Rock struck twice late in the session to extend their lead.

The first came when Landon Deforge and Brendan Boyce combined to set-up Seguin in the slot where he placed a shot in the top left corner for his second of the night and NOJHL-leading 12th marker of the campaign.

Not done there, the home side added another at 18:31 when Harry Clark finished off an odd-man rush by potting a Cameron Kosurko feed from the top of the crease.

In the third, Hearst dashed Timmins’ netminder Tyler Masternak’s shutout bid with just over eight minutes remaining when Tyren Grimsdale finished off some pressure off a face off win and on a goal-mouth scramble.

A late two-man advantage and Oxner out for an extra attacker meant a frenzied finish.

With 40 seconds remaining the Lumberjacks were also awarded a penalty shot after it was deemed by the officials that a Rock defender had covered the puck in the crease.

However, Masternak stood tall, thwarting Quinton Hill with a pad save.

Hearst kept coming though and scored moments after that as Jordyn Mughal was credited with a goal at 19:31 after firing a shot through a crowd from the right circle.

Then, one last chance by the visitors was chipped just over the net as time expired with the hosts holding on for the victory.

Masternak finished with 27 saves, including 17 in the third period, to collect the win while Oxner made 42 stops in the narrow defeat.


Game Photos: Thomas Perry – The Daily Press/Postmedia Network
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