ELLIOT LAKE, Ont. – A Lukas Lyszyk power play goal 2:15 into overtime was the difference as the Espanola Express edged the Elliot Lake Wildcats 2-1 in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League encounter Saturday at Centennial Arena.
Lots of shots in a scoreless first period saw Espanola hold a 17-16 edge in that department, but neither side was able to find the back of the net.
An early man advantage in the middle stanza helped Elliot Lake to light the lamp first when Michael Campbell collected his second of the campaign with help from teammates Logan Gallagher and Tysne Stranski, who picked up his initial NOJHL assist.
The Express answered late in the session though to knot the affair at 1-1 following 40 minutes on a Tyler Nelson effort at 19:51.
In the third, neither side would convert offensively to help send it to extra time.
Up a skater in OT, Espanola got the winner as Zachary Matyasik fired a shot from the left side that was stopped Wildcats goalkeeper Jonathan Lemaire, but the rebound bounced right to an open Lyszyk, who promptly buried the game-winner into the open side to end it.
Carson Boutin made 38 stops to record the win for the Express while 48 saves by Lemaire helped his side earn a point in defeat.
Game Photos courtesy of Northern Exposures Photography
