KIRKLAND LAKE – The Kirkland Lake Gold Miners jumped out to an early three-goal lead and then battled their way from there to a 4-2 triumph over the Powassan Voodoos in a hard-fought Game 2 of their Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League East Division semifinal Sunday at the Joe Mavrinac Community Complex.
The best-of-seven set is now tied at 1-1 with the series now shifting to the Powassan Sportsplex for games three and four Tuesday and Wednesday at 7 p.m.
After dropping the opener on home ice Saturday, Kirkland Lake came out fast in this one grabbing a 3-0 lead after one period of play of efforts supplied by Turk Scatliff, Jamey Lauzon and Zach Pease, who added his marker via the power play.
Countering, the Voodoos struck twice in a 70-second span midway through the contest to get themselves back in it.
Electing to shoot on a two-on-one, David Sherman made no mistake zipping one past Gold Miners’ starter Josh Erickson at 9:23.
Pressing the attack, Powassan got another soon after as Tyler Gervais-Rolfe found himself skating alone and front and took a Nathaniel McLeod feed, with help from Aaron Dart, and buried his first of the playoffs.
The back-and-forth affair continued from there into the final frame with each side trading chances, before Kirkland Lake got some insurance with half a period to play.
On the play, Kirkland Lake affiliate Wayne Mathieu picked up his initial NOJHL point as he combined with Ryan Swain to set-up Luc Soares with the final goal of the evening.
The Voodoos would pull netminder Matt Young with over two minutes to go in an effort to equalize, but the Gold Miners stood tall in securing the win.
Shots on goal favoured Kirkland Lake 28-27 with Erickson picking up the victory and Young his first loss of the postseason.
