HEARST, ON - The Hearst Lumberjacks stormed back from a trio of two-goal deficits before eventually striking twice late in regulation, then winning in overtime, to upend the Powassan Voodoos 5-4 in a thrilling Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League affair Saturday at Claude Larose Recreation Centre.
The Lumberjacks pressed the pace in the opening 20 minutes, but could not solve Voodoos’ netminder Austin Seibel in a scoreless first frame.
Action in the second stanza saw Powassan open the scoring early as Dawson Coleman put a shot through traffic from the left point that found the short-side corner on Hearst’s Alexandre Boivin for his first NOJHL goal.
The visitors then added to their lead by converting on a power play 11:22, thanks to Jack Nolan’s 10th tally of the season as he took a down-low feed from Anoushan Mungunthan and quickly ripped it over the glove of Boivin.
Moving to a frenzied third period, Bronson Babyak got the home side on the board, while up a skater, as he snagged a loose puck in the low slot and ripped it upstairs on Seibel.
Putting Powassan back up by a pair, Eric Whitelaw’s initial NOJHL tally, saw him click with his club up a skater at 5:14 as he made a nifty move on a wrap around and jammed in his chance on Boivin.
Back and forth they went with Mathie Comeau connecting for Hearst as he wired one in from the left side, only to see Cayden Kowal answer that at 15:44 as he picked off a play at his own blueline, then raced in on a breakaway that he finished off with a crisp blocker side snap shot.
Battling back, the home pulled to within one at 17:20 off the stick of Liam Boswell as he buried his 10th of the campaign as he pumped in a rebound with Boivin on the bench for an extra attacker.
With their goaltender out once more, the Lumberjacks forced extra time with 1:26 remaining in regulation when former Voodoos forward Chase Thompson deflected an Adam Shillinglaw attempt through a crowd from the right side that found its way in.
Completing the comeback 72 seconds into OT, Comeau won it after racing down the right wing, then pulling up, where he was allowed to move in and hammer the game-winner past Seibel to end it.
Hearst has now won each of their past nine games played, while Powassan has dropped four in a row (0-3-0-1).
The Voodoos finish off their northern swing with a game in Timmins Sunday afternoon at the McIntyre arena.
