Voodoos secure playoff spot with road win

An Anthony Boyes marker midway through the third period proved to be the game-winner as the Powassan Voodoos clinched themselves a playoff spot with a hard-fought 4-3 result over the Espanola Paper Kings Friday night in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League action at the Regional Recreation Complex.

The pivotal contest with potential postseason implications on the line for both clubs, it was Espanola who opened the scoring on the power play as Atley Gringorten pumped in a rebound off an Aston Pitawanakwat attempt past Powassan netminder Tyson Wilcox.

Up a skater early in the middle frame, the Voodoos drew level when Justin Rousseau redirected in a Marcus Krats shot from the top of the right circle.

The visitors then took the lead at 13:21, during another man advantage, on a rush started by Caleb Dawson, who was appearing in his 100th NOJHL game, that eventually led to Lucas de Caluwe cranking a blast from the left side that beat Connor Hatfield in the Paper Kings net.

Pulling even in the final minute of the second, Espanola’s Jack Anderson fired a cross-crease feed that was swatted in by Grant Booth, who scored for a fourth straight game, notching his sixth in total during that span.

Continuing to exchange markers 3:34 into the third, the visitors went back on top while on the power play, when Daniil Viscu converted as he jammed in a rebound from in close off a point shot by Krats.

Adding another, to go up by two halfway through the session, Boyes darted down the left wing with speed and proceeded to bury his chance past Hatfield.

Answering that with 6:37 left in regulation, Anderson worked his way to the slot for the Paper Kings then put a pass over to Tyler Thompson, who finished it off from the right circle.

In the late going, with their goalkeeper out for an additional skater, Espanola pushed for an equalizer to try and force overtime, however the Voodoos held firm to secure the victory and punch their ticket to the playoffs.