Savard shuts out Gold Miners as Canadians win 5th straight

CHELMSFORD, Ont. – Backed by the continued stalwart netminding of MacKenzie Savard, the Rayside-Balfour Canadians earned their fifth straight Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League victory Thursday, a 3-0 triumph over the visiting Kirkland Lake Gold Miners at Chelmsford Arena.

With the result Savard won for a ninth consecutive start for Rayside-Balfour while having allowed only 11 goals against during this impressive run.

The Canadians picked up the only offensive production they would require on this night in the first period as they collected a couple of markers in the latter stages of the session.

Justin Janowski’s initial NOJHL goal 14:22 into the match-up proved to be the game-winner.

A late man advantage in the frame saw the home side tack on one more with Evan Krassey clicking on the power play with only 11 seconds to go in the stanza.

It remained tight-checking the rest of the way with Savard, as well as Kirkland Lake goalkeeper Ryan Winter, keeping opposing shooters at bay until James White supplied some insurance for Rayside-Balfour with 4:21 to go in regulation as he picked up his eighth goal of 2017-18.

The shutout was Savard’s second of the season and sixth overall in the league as he turned aside all 26 attempts he faced on the night.

Winter was solid despite the defeat for the Gold Miners as he saw 38 shots fired his way in the setback.

With the win Rayside-Balfour improved to 11-4-0-0 on the campaign with Kirkland Lake dropping to 6-6-2-1 overall.