ELLIOT LAKE, Ont. – Finding their groove, the Elliot Lake Wildcats skated to their second consecutive Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League victory Friday night as they defeated the Espanola Express 5-4 at Centennial Arena.
Plenty of scoring in this one saw each side tally twice in the opening 20 minutes Michael Campbell`s first NOJHL goal and Eric Vanderhoof`s team-leading 12th of the season connecting for Elliot Lake while Matais Salem and Dylan Labelle countered for Espanola.
The middle frame saw the Express strike quickly, just 28 seconds in, as Zach Trempner put the visitors into the lead.
Answering back, the Wildcats saw Hayden Daca pick up his initial league marker at 11:08 before Connor Taylor knocked in his seventh a couple of shifts later to put the home side up 4-3 after two.
Elliot Lake then collected the eventual game-winner with nearly five minutes remaining in regulation as Jaydyn Parnell’s first marker of the season proved to be the difference maker.
Lukas Lyszyk did get one back for Espanola with 2:31 to go, but the home side held on from there to extend their modest winning streak.
With his goal and three assists, Wildcats captain Connor Taylor extended a point point streak to 12 straight outings while Trempner had a three-point performance for the Express.
Finishing with 46 saves was Elliot Lake netminder Parker Simpson, who recorded the win, while Espanola’s Joel Rainville faced 39 attempts in defeat.
Game Photos courtesy of Northern Exposures Photography