KIRKLAND LAKE – A David Sherman unassisted marker late in the second period proved to be the game-winner as the Powassan Voodoos surprised the defending champion Kirkland Lake Gold Miners 6-3 Saturday in their Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League East Division semifinal opener at the Joe Mavrinac Community Complex.
Game 2 of the best-of-seven affair goes Sunday back in Kirkland Lake at 7:30 p.m. at The Joe.
Special teams allowed the Voodoos to strike first as Jake Staples connected on the power play 6:21 into the contest.
The Gold Miners drew level however before the opening stanza was complete as Chris Pearson picked up his first of the playoffs at 17:37.
Tallies 75 seconds apart saw Powassan go up by two in the middle session on efforts supplied by James Vuillemot and Aaron Dart.
Countering, Kirkland Lake added two of their own to tie it once again as Jeremy Dumont and Ethan Strong scored to level the proceedings at 3-3.
Sherman then notched the eventual difference make with 1:20 left in the frame.
In the third, the visitors put the game away getting goals from league MVP and rookie of the year Steve Harland along with another high-scoring Voodoos forward in Kyle Moore to cap off the opening night upset.
Matt Young turned aside 31 of 34 shots fired his way to pick up the win as he improved to 3-0 in the postseason after Powassan took two two straight from the Mattawa Blackhawks in the first round.
Josh Erickson started for the Gold Miners and allowed three against on 13 attempts while Devon Debastos gave up three more on 14 shots and suffered the loss in nearly 31 minutes of relief.
