COCHRANE, Ont. – A Riley Robitaille power play marker midway through the contest held up as the game-winner as the Timmins Rock edged the slumping Cochrane Crunch 2-1 Friday in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League encounter Friday at Tim Horton Events Centre.
First period play saw neither side connect offensively as the opening 20 minutes went scoreless.
Moving on to the middle stanza, Timmins capitalized on a man advantage to kick off the scoring at 7:11 with Derek Seguin picking up his fifth of the campaign in his past six outings.
Up a skater once more midway through the contest, the Rock extended their cushion thanks to a Robitaille tally, which proved to be the eventual difference maker.
The Crunch began a comeback bid eight minutes into the third as Nicolas Flanders put his side on the board for his second of the year with an assist going to Hunter Buzzi to move to within one.
However, Rock starter Tyler Masternak tightened up one for his squad and would not allow the equalizer finishing with 29 saves to earn the road victory.
Josh Anderson assisted on both Timmins tallies on the night.
Crunch netminder Zach Wickson saved 19 of the 21 shots fired his way in defeat as the defending NOJHL champions from Cochrane fell to 1-5 in their past six outings.
