Photos: Northern Exposures Photography
ELLIOT LAKE, Ont. – A Toby Johnson tally with just 10 seconds remaining in overtime was the difference as the Elliot Lake Vikings pulled out a dramatic 3-2 win over the Blind River Beavers Friday night in a thrilling Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League encounter at Rogers Arena.
A good start for the Vikings saw their captain Alexsander Duguay put them in front just over five minutes into the matchup when he snagged a loose puck in close and moved to his left before lifting in a backhand on Beavers’ netminder Ian Blair.
A tight checking second stanza saw the session go scoreless as Elliot Lake carried their slim 1-0 edge into the second intermission.
In the third period, the Vikings added to their lead on a power play as Jonathan Benchlouch bunted in a bouncing puck in front off a Dane Skillings point blast at 4:45.
Answering that three minutes later, Blind River eventually solved Elliot Lake goalkeeper Jacob Kirstein on a man advantage of their own when Ryder Hill got just enough of a shot from the top of the right circle to see it just squeak across the goal line.
Pulling even with Blair on the bench for an extra attacker just before time expired, as well as being on a power play, the Beavers’ Ilian Danilov took a pass from Lucas Park on the left side and ripped it upstairs on Kirstein with just two seconds left in regulation.
A great Blind River chance to win it on a breakaway saw Kirstein make a big glove save in the final minute to keep the game going.
Then late in extra time, the Vikings controlled a draw in their own zone that led to a two-on-one where Johnson, coming down the right wing, decided to shoot and ripped in the game-winner up high to give his side the victory.
