MATTAWA – The Cochrane Crunch jumped out to a three-goal lead by the midway poijt of the first period and eventually previaled with a 4-2 decision over the Mattawa Blackhawks Sunday in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League match-up at Mike Rodden Arena.
It took the visiting Crunch just nine seconds to opening the scoring in the contest as Josh Racek buried his 18th of the campaign early and extended a consecutive game point streak to six.
Cochrane then went up by a pair four minutes later as Alex Goulet’s shorthanded effort eluded Mattawa starter Joe Sheppard.
The NOJHL’s leading goal and point producer Cody Gratton added to the visitors Crunch as he tallied for the 42nd time this season and added his 71st point. He too ran a streak to a half dozen points with the marker.
C.J. Nicholson put the Blackhawks on the board with an effort at 18:38 to make it a 3-1 game after 20 minutes.
After a scoreless second stanza, Dustin Cordeiro extended the visitors lead with 2:41 to go as he fired home his 31st of the season.
Nathan Avery then added the final goal of the game for Mattawa in the final moments to round out the scoring.
Shots on goal favoured the Crunch 54-38 with Brett Young earning the victory and Sheppard the loss.
NOJHL action resumes Wednesday as the Sudbury Nickel Barons host the Soo Thunderbirds in a 7:30 p.m. start at McClelland Arena.
