ELLIOT LAKE – A Ryan Aubertin goal with 52 seconds remaining in regulation allowed the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners to pull out an eventual 2-2 double overtime draw with the Elliot Lake Wildcats Friday evening in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League encounter at Centennial Arena.
The hometown Wildcats notched the lone tally of the opening period as defenceman Nathan Campbell picked up his 14th of the season with two and a half minutes left in the stanza.
Special teams allowed Elliot Lake to go up a pair in the second as Cole Hepler struck shorthanded at 6:47.
Kirkland Lake would get on the board before the session was complete as Luc Soares beat Wildcats’ starter A.J. Smith with 5:19 to go in the period.
With time winding down the Gold Miners drew level in the final minute of the third as Aubertin fired home the equalizer to send the contest to OT.
Neither side could convert in each of the two five-minute overtimes as the clubs skated to the second tie in league play this season.
Shots on goal on the night favoured Kirkland Lake 41-27 with Josh Erickson of the Gold Miners and Smith of Elliot Lake backstopping their respective sides to one point each in the game.
