Photos: Gary Rosevear
HEARST, Ont. – A Luc Warner power play marker with 3:42 remaining in regulation proved to be the game-winner as the Hearst Lumberjacks rode the strength of a three-goal third period to defeat the Espanola Paper Kings 4-3 in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League playoff action Friday night at Claude Larose Recreation Centre.
Graydon Guthrie gave Espanola the early lead at 8:05 of the opening session as he was sent in alone on a breakaway off a headman pass from Carter Drigo, then went in and made a crafty deke to his right before neatly lifting in a backhand over the pad of Hearst starter Jack Helkie.
The Lumberjacks responded though on the next shift as Mavrik Chan-Miguel darted down the right wing with pace before saucering a feed over to Nathan Seed, who promptly whipped it past Paper Kings’ netminder Logan Vale.
Still tied into the second period, Espanola pressured a turnover in the Hearst end that led to Emerson De Giacomo setting up Cain Savage in front, who guided in the pass for his fist NOJHL playoff goal at 12:46.
Action in the third saw Hearst captain Mathieu Comeau guide in a play put through the crease by Cole Miller at the 23-second mark to knot the affair at 2-2.
Then while up a skater, Chan-Miguel converted as he cranked in a one-timer after being teed up by Seed to make it 3-2 Hearst.
Drigo came back to tie things up at 13:21 as he promptly buried a strong backhand put his way by Joseph Coates.
However, the Lumberjacks pulled out the Game 1 result when former Paper Kings’ forward Warner blasted in the deciding tally from the left circle, during a man advantage, that Vale could only get a piece of before it bounced in.
Game 2 in the best-of-seven affair goes Saturday back in Hearst at 7 p.m.
NOJHL quarter-final
No. 3 Hearst Lumberjacks vs. No. 6 Espanola Paper Kings
Game 1: Lumberjacks 4, Paper Kings 3
Game 2: Saturday, March 21 @ Hearst 7 p.m. (Claude Larose Recreation Centre)
Game 3: Tuesday, March 24 @ Espanola 7:30 p.m. (Regional Recreation Complex)
Game 4: Wednesday, March 25 @ Espanola 7:30 p.m. (Regional Recreation Complex)
Game 5*: Friday, March 27 @ Hearst 7 p.m. (Claude Larose Recreation Centre)
Game 6*: Sunday, March 29 @ Espanola 7 p.m. (Regional Recreation Complex)
Game 7*: Tuesday, March 31 @ Hearst 7 p.m. (Claude Larose Recreation Centre)
*-if necessary
Hearst leads best-of-seven series 1-0
