saultsports Photo: Allyson Demers
KIRKLAND LAKE, Ont. – Despite clear-cut opportunities at both ends of the ice in the late going, and the majority of the seven-minute overtime, the goaltenders stood tall in what proved to be a 2-2 draw between the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners and Espanola Paper Kings Sunday afternoon in thrilling Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League action at Joe Mavrinac Community Complex.
Espanola did connect quickly in opening the scoring when Atley Gringorten came down the left wing and from a real sharp angle fired a shot towards the target that hit a skate and found its way in on Kirkland Lake netminder Mason Janicki at 1:28, for his initial tally of the campaign.
Some solid play at both ends of the ice were generated for the rest of the session, but the Paper Kings’ Connor Hatfield and Janicki kept it 1-0 after one.
A number of quality shorthanded chances in the initial stages of the second stanza, gave the Gold Miners moments to tie it, only to be denied by Hatfield.
Continuing to press the pace, Kirkland Lake did draw level while down a skater as Dawson Boily wheeled into the left circle and pumped an attempt through the Espanola goalkeeper at 14:27.
All square at 1-1 into the third period, the home side clicked moments into a man advantage that saw Boily put a pass out from below the goal line, right to Aaron Leenaars, who quickly snapped it in to give him points in five straight contests.
Answering with an equalizer at 11:02, the Paper Kings’ Grant Booth drove hard into the Gold Miners’ end and while taking his opportunity wide, propelled a back hand up over the glove of Janicki.
The tally saw him run a point streak to five in succession.
A pair of prime chances deep in regulation by each club could not be completed, which sent it to OT.
End-to-end action throughout extra time saw multiple breakaways denied by the goalkeepers, who exchanged big-time stops throughout the frame before time expired.
The point picked up by Espanola in the tie, puts them into sole possession of eighth place in the NOJHL standings, just one ahead of the Iroquois Falls Storm in a quest for a playoff spot.
Iroquois Falls does however hold a game in hand.
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