TIMMINS, Ont. – An Evan Katic goal seven minutes into the third period proved to be the game-winner as the Timmins Rock went on to skate past the Hearst Lumberjacks 5-3 Monday in Game 3 of their Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League semifinal in front of 1,168 fans at McIntyre Arena.
This gives Timmins a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven series, with Game 4 going Wednesday back at ‘The Mac’ at 7 p.m., and on FLOHockey.tv.
It was the visiting Lumberjacks who gained the early edge, just over five minutes into the contest, when Cameron Menard hammered in a rebound from the left circle off a Mavrik Chan-Miguel attempt that flew past Rock starter Frédéric Cousineau.
A surging Maxx Hamelin drew Timmins level at 8:50 of the first period as he quickly pumped in a Lucas Lowe feed by Hearst netminder Jack Helkie for his NOJHL-leading 21st point of the playoffs.
Going back on top a couple of shifts later, the Lumberjacks’ Ty Seymour lifted one in through a partial screen from between the circles.
Still 2-1 for the guests into the middle frame, the clubs traded tallies in the first half of it.
After Ashton Beriana struck shorthanded for the Rock when he cranked in a blast off a turnover, Mathieu Comeau gave Hearst the lead once more as he finished off a down low set-up from Chase Thompson.
The back and forth affair continued midway through the second when Ryan Armitage made it 3-3 by taking a Braedyn Cyr pass then wiring one upstairs on Helkie.
A controversial go-ahead goal for Timmins in the third saw Evan Katic blast in a rebound off the blocker of Helkie that Hearst objected to, saying the playing leading up to it was off-side.
The Lumberjacks then got their goalkeeper out for an extra attacker late in an effort to tie it and force overtime, but Nolan Masson iced it for the hosts with a diving backhand from his own zone, while down six skaters to four, that sailed down the length of the ice into an empty net to secure the result.
NOJHL semifinal
No. 3 Hearst Lumberjacks vs. No. 4 Timmins Rock
Best-of-seven series
Game 1: Rock 7, Lumberjacks 4
Game 2: Rock 5, Lumberjacks 2
Game 3: Rock 5, Lumberjacks 3
Game 4: Wednesday, April 8 @ Timmins 7 p.m. (McIntyre Arena)
Game 5*: Friday, April 10 @ Hearst 7 p.m. (Claude Larose Recreation Centre)
Game 6*: Monday, April 13 @ Timmins 7 p.m. (McIntyre Arena)
Game 7*: Wednesday, April 15 @ Hearst 7 p.m. (Claude Larose Recreation Centre)
*-if necessary
Timmins leads best-of-seven series 3-0
Game Photos:
Thomas Perry – The Daily Press/Postmedia Network
