Photos: voodooshockey.com
POWASSAN, Ont. – A three-goal outburst in the latter stages of the second period put the Powassan Voodoos in flight and sent them on their way to an eventual 5-3 victory over the Espanola Paper Kings in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League mid-week play Wednesday at the Powassan Sportsplex.
The best early chance saw Espanola starter Andrew Gaulton flash the leather in making a big glove save on a Powassan breakaway.
After another solid stop, this time with his pad, to foil the Voodoos’ Ryan Patrick on another in-alone attempt, the Paper Kings countered in transition and saw Lucas Signoretti find Owen Fergusson going to the slot where he whipped a shot past netminder Daniel Dirracolo to give the guests the lead.
A spirited middle session play saw the home side draw level with just over five minutes remaining.
On the tying tally, Tucker Shields took a play wide, then behind the net, before firing a feed in front that was buried by Zach Turner.
They then came right back and went up 2-1 when Caden Dubreuil pumped one upstairs on Gaulton from a sharp angle.
Not done there, Powassan made it 3-1, for a third goal in under two minutes, as Patrick knocked down a clearing attempt in the high slot and proceeded to rip a shot, blocker side, for his ninth of the season.
The trio of rapid markers saw Espanola make a goaltending change and had back-up Jake Marois enter the contest.
Getting closer just before the intermission, the Paper Kings’ Aidan Rufa ripped a shot into the top right-hand corner after he corralled his own attempt moments before.
Early in the third, a furious goal-mouth frenzy eventually featured the Voodoos’ Reyth Smith lifting in a backhand to put the hosts back up by a pair.
Battling back, the NOJHL’s leading goal-getter, in Signoretti, was spotted free at the top of the crease by Nicolas Saucier and saw him bury his 27th of the campaign at 5:49.
Getting a fifth for Powassan was Darby McCarthy who cruised into the left circle and put one through some bodies midway through the stanza to help secure the home ice triumph.
The win sees the Voodoos move to 17-10-0-2, while in defeat, the Paper Kings fall to 18-12-0-0.
