KIRKLAND LAKE – A Joel Fortin goal 8:19 into the third period proved to be the game-winner as the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners edged the Cochrane Crunch 3-2 in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League contest held at the Joe Mavrinac Community Complex.
The home side took a 1-0 lead after the opening session when Connor Thie tallied for the 15th time this season while also extending a consecutive game point streak to seven straight outings at 17:58.
Cochrane drew level in the middle frame as Blake Peavey found the mark at 5:12 for the lone marker of the period.
Kirkland Lake went back in front three minutes into the third as Ryan Swain made it 2-1.
Fortin added to the Gold Miners cushion as he connected for his ninth of the campaign with the eventual deciding goal.
The Crunch moved closer thanks to the power play as Max Glashauser connected for a man advantage marker at 11:18.
That tally though turned out to be the final one of the evening as Kirkland Lake won their league-leading 22nd game of the season.
Shots on goal favoured the Gold Miners 33-17 with Josh Erickson picking up the victory and Brett Young the loss.
