ELLIOT LAKE, Ont. – A Clark Allair power play marker with 4:45 remaining in regulation proved to be the decider as the Elliot Lake Wildcats went on to clip the Cochrane Crunch 5-3 Friday in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League affair at Centennial Arena.
The visiting Crunch connected early in the proceedings to take a 1-0 lead thanks to a Caleb Dolman effort at 2:43.
However the home side countered with the equalizer less than two minutes later when William Bucsis picked up his fourth of the campaign and extended a point streak to four in the process.
Regrouping Cochrane went back on top late in the frame thanks to Kyle Herbster’s third overall with 70 seconds left in the period.
Fresh off a hat trick and an assist in a win over Espanola Thursday, Evan Spencer continued his torrid pace by notching his team-leading seventh goal of the season three minutes in the second stanza.
Continuing to trade tallies, the two sides struck 42 seconds apart with Jacob Kelly connecting for the Wildcats before Dolman came right back for the Crunch with his second of the night.
Then taking advantage of an extra man opportunity in the latter stages of the contest, Allair potted the game-winner at 15:15.
Spencer then iced it with an empty netter in the final minute to cap off his second straight four-point night.
Bucsis also had two assists in the triumph for Elliot Lake while Braden King chipped in with a couple of helpers for Cochrane.
Parker Simpson entered the contest after the third Crunch marker and picked up the win in relief handling all 19 attempts he faced.
Allan Menary started for the Wildcats and allowed three against on 16 shots.
Shayne Battler suffered the setback for Cochrane as he finished with 28 saves.
Photo credit: Joanne Grise