MATTAWA – A Danny Lepage goal 3:13 into the second overtime lifted the Sudbury Nickel Barons to a hard-fought 3-2 victory over the Mattawa Blackhawks Sunday in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League play at Mike Rodden Arena.
Following a scoreless opening period, Sudbury got on the board 2:29 into the second stanza courtesy of an August Jarecki man advantage effort.
Mattawa responded with a pair of tallies before the frame was complete on a pair of shorthanded efforts from Andy Williams and Tyler Broderson to take a 2-1 lead after 40 minutes.
The Nickel Barons forced extra time as Jarecki’s second of the contest levelled the proceedings with 6:20 left in regulation.
After neither side scored in the first five-minute OT, Lepage won it with the teams playing three skaters aside in second extra session as he buried the efforts of Ryan Mooney and Jacob Bonin to give Sudbury the win.
Jessie Morin made 27 saves to record the victory for the Nickel Barons.
Joe Sheppard faced 50 shots in defeat helping Mattawa earn a point on the night.
