Elliot Lake finishes strong in win over Espanola

ELLIOT LAKE, Ont. – The Elliot Lake Wildcats finished strong with three late goal to pull out a 5-1 triumph over the Espanola Express in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League match-up Thursday at Centennial Arena.

Elliot Lake came out strong in the contest and grabbed a 2-0 lead after one period of play with Troy Daniels picking up his first goal in the NOJHL at 2:01 while Eric Conley also collected his initial marker over 10 minutes later.

After a scoreless second stanza, Espanola got on the board at 2:25 of the third thanks to Zachary Matyasik who registered first NOJHL goal.

Noah Minns would get that back for the Wildcats with just over seven minutes remaining in regulation to help secure the win on home ice.

Elliot Lake then put the game away with two more markers in the final five minutes off the sticks of Andrew Maltby and Jayden Parnell to round out the night’s scoring.

Josh Bifolchi supplied two assists for the Wildcats to aid their offensive cause.

Wildcats’ netminder Dominic Boily made 36 saves to record the win while Express starter Ryan Hale was peppered with 55 shots against in defeat.