ESPANOLA, Ont. – A three-tally night for Ty McHutchion and a four-assist performance courtesy of Caleb Resch was part a 7-3 goal-filled win by the Espanola Express over the Elliot Lake Red Wings in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League match-up Saturday at the Regional Recreation Complex.
The home town Express began the night’s scoring by striking shorthanded as Todd McBain was sent in alone on a breakaway by Kobe Braham and made no mistake by zipping a shot that beat Elliot Lake starter Nolan Chartand 7:42 in.
Coming out quickly to begin the second period, Espanola went up by a pair on a nice spin move and low backhand by McHutchion for his first of the night.
Then picking up a power play moments later, Resch cranked one from the point that was neatly redirected in by McHutchion parked in front of the net, who scored for a third straight game and ran a point streak to five in a row.
Answering right back, the Red Wings countered with a trio of quick markers of their own to knot the affair at 3-3.
Cole Kimble picked up the first one for the visitors, via the man advantage, as he blasted a one-timer from the left side.
Less than a minute later, Josh Tomasi made it 3-2 when he put a low attempt from the right circle that eluded Express goalkeeper Patrick Boivin.
Not done there, Brodie Kearns levelled the proceedings right after that when Cole Kimble tipped point man Cameron Dial’s wrist shot from inside the blueline.
Back and forth they went with Espanola going back in front at 7:14 thanks to Logan James, who jammed one in after a couple of whacks at the puck from close range.
There was some more McHutchion magic late in the second as he hit his hat trick by finishing off a nice give-and-go with Banham to notch his seventh tally in his past three games.
The Express then restored their three-goal lead with half a minute to go in the frame as James Eng topped off a two-on-one.
In the final frame, Ben Couvier wrapped up the win with a shorthanded marker, into an empty net, to round out the scoring.
While Resch had the five helpers to bolster the Espanola offensive cause, Braham dished out a trio of helpers of his own.
Shots on goal were 46-44 in favour of Elliot Lake with Boivin getting the win while Chartrand suffered the defeat.
