saultsports ESPANOLA, Ont. – Riding the strength of a five-goal first period, the Espanola Paper Kings used that early outburst to down the French River Rapids 6-2 in a penalty-filled Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League contest Saturday at the Regional Recreation Complex.
Espanola came out quickly and took a two-tally lead before the match-up was eight minutes old.
On the initial marker, the Paper Kings’ Grant Booth drove hard down the right wing and put the puck to the top of the crease where a hard-charging Graydon Guthrie had a couple of in-close cracks before jamming it past Rapids’ starter Zachary Burleigh at 5:07.
Then a couple of shifts later, Cain Savage notched his first NOJHL goal by snapping in a rebound on a delayed penalty.
Answering that, French River’s Dominic Bzdyl lifted in a rising backhand from a sharp angle on Espanola netminder Jack Helkie.
However, the home side came right back to once again go up by a pair with Nico Vaccaro neatly redirecting in a nice pass by Rich Podulka.
The Paper Kings then put an early end to Burleigh’s night thanks to Tyler Thompson picking up his initial effort of the campaign at 12:34 as he took a Jack Anderson feed and whipped it upstairs.
The assist for Anderson sees him extend a point streak to seven games.
Meanwhile the goal saw Brock Grein enter in relief for French River.
Not done there however, Espanola’s Aidan Rufa made it 5-1 after one as he clicked on a man advantage by working a give-and-go with Guthrie and pumping it in at 18:10.
In the middle stanza, the visitors got one back late in the frame as Sergy Suschenko stuffed in a loose puck off a Joey Stiles blast from the left side.
Moving to the third period, the Paper Kings extended their cushion when Jason Galante wheeled down the left side, cut around a defender, and while going to the net banged in his 13th of the season.
That proved to be the evening’s final offensive effort as Espanola extended their cushion in the race for a playoff spot with both French River and Iroquois Falls.
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