Photos: voodooshockey.com
POWASSAN, Ont. – The Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League front-running Greater Sudbury Cubs continued their winning ways Friday as they defeated the Powassan Voodoos 4-3 in an inter-divisional match-up at the Powassan Sportsplex.
Clicking late into a man advantage, Greater Sudbury opened the night’s scoring, 13 and a half minutes into the proceedings, when Ben Lacroix guided in an Oliver Smith pass sent from the left wing into the crease, that eluded Voodoos’ goaltender Daniel Dirracolo.
Coming right back, Powassan tied it with a power play marker of their own as Tucker Shields pumped in a one-timer from up top that flew past Cubs’ starter Noah Metivier, after being teed-up by Alex Case along the blueline.
Retaking the lead late in the frame, Noah Kohan powered his way from behind the net and worked it to Cameron Walker, who slammed in his 14th goal of the season.
Moving to the second stanza, Greater Sudbury added to their edge at 5:34 after Kohan spun and put a play over who Ryan Rubic, who steered it in from in close.
Staying 3-1 for the guests into the third period, Parker McLelland brought the home side back to within one with seven and a half minutes remaining as he fired a shot from the right point that sailed in, after a battle along the boards.
Powassan then got their goalie out in the late going for an additional skater, however Rubic chased down a puck heading into the Voodoos’ end and slid it into the empty net.
Continuing to battle, Powassan got one more when Reyth Smith stuffed in a backhand into an open corner with 20 seconds left.
That proved to be the night’s final tally though as the Cubs collected a league-leading 12th win on the road, while raising their overall record to a NOJHL-best 26-7-0-0.
In defeat, the Voodoos fell to 17-11-0-2.
