PHOTOS: Caleigh Fera – Sudbury Light Event Photography
SUDBURY, Ont. – Devin Mauro tallied twice in the third period, including notching the eventual game-winner on a shorthanded breakaway, to help lead the Espanola Paper Kings to a narrow 2-1 triumph over the Greater Sudbury Cubs in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League contest Thursday evening at Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex.
With the teams splitting their previous four meetings, on two wins apiece, the makings were in place for another tightly-contested affair.
Action in the opening 20 minutes saw neither side convert offensively as the clubs went to the first intermission still in search of the night’s initial goal.
It was much the same in the second stanza as well, with the starting netminders, Espanola’s Jake Marois and Greater Sudbury’s Noah Metivier both spotless through 40 minutes of play.
Special teams helped the Cubs break the goose-egg early in the third as they capitalized on the power play with Cameron Walker finishing off the work of Nolan Newton, who had made a lengthy rush up ice, by jamming in a loose puck that lay free at the top of the crease.
Countering with a tying marker a couple of minutes later, the Paper Kings’ drew level after Lucas Signoretti dug a play free along the end boards and set-up Mauro, who lifted one over the glove of Metivier at 5:59.
It was more Mauro magic midway through the third as he scooped up a turnover, went in alone on his shorthanded chance, and after partially loosing control, it actually helped him snap it into the left side corner for his seventh goal in his past four outings and collect his second straight game-winner.
Greater Sudbury did pull Metivier for an extra skater late to try and force overtime, but Espanola’s Marois held firm between the pipes to collect the victory.
The result sees the Paper Kings move to 25-20-2-2 on the season, while in defeat, the Cubs dropped to 40-9-2-0 overall.
“Highlight of the Night” – NOJHL YouTube Channel