Hearst Lumberjacks blue-liner Royce Abraham loses control of the puck as he battles with a Rock defender in front of Timmins goalie Frédéric Cousineau during Game 2 of their best-of-seven NOJHL semifinal series at the Claude Larose Recreation Centre, Saturday night. The Rock went on to beat the Lumberjacks 5-2 and take a 2-0 lead in the series. Photo by NORTHERN LIGHTS PHOTOGRAPHY /For NOJHL Network
Timmins Rock coach and general manager Brandon Perry admitted it ‘feels pretty good’ to be up 2-0 in the series heading back home
Thomas Perry
The Daily Press/Postmedia Network
HEARST — Kaeden McArthur’s hat-trick helped propel the Timmins Rock to a 5-2 win over the Lumberjacks at the Claude Larose Recreation Centre, Saturday night.
More importantly, it gave the Rock a 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven NOJHL semifinal series, heading to the McIntyre Arena for Game 3, on Monday, at 7 p.m.
Rock coach and general manager Brandon Perry admitted it “feels pretty good” to be up 2-0 in the series heading back home.
“We played a really good game tonight,” he said. “
Unlike Game 1 of the series, which the Rock won 7-4 on Thursday night, this contest saw the visitors get out to a fast start, outshooting their opponents 15-8.
GM1: Timmins Rock overcome slow start to topple Lumberjacks
In fact, McArthur’s first of three goals on the night and seventh of the playoffs came just 1:04 into the contest.
Matteo Paradiso’s second goal of the post season, exactly six minutes later, then made it a 2-0 hockey game.
The Lumberjacks were able to get on the scoreboard before the first intermission, thanks to Quinn Gavin-White’s unassisted marker, his first goal of the playoffs.
“We played a great first period,” Perry said. “We only gave up nine shots. It was a real solid period. We made one mistake in the neutral zone and it ended up in the back of our net, but it was just a real solid period on the road to start things off.”
But the Rock kept coming in the middle frame, once again outshooting the Lumberjacks, this time 9-6.
Once again, McArthur struck early, this time 1:10 into the second period, as he netted his second goal of the game and eighth tally of the post season.
“Hamey (Maxx Hamelin) got the puck down low and he found me in the slot and I put it past the goalie,” he said, describing how the play on the game-winning goal developed.
“I was aiming top left (on the goalie’s blocker side) and that’s where I put it. That’s where I scored my first goal, as well, and I know he is pretty weak there.”
McArthur then completed his hat-trick six-and-a-half minutes later, as he scored his ninth goal of the playoffs to put the Rock in front 4-1.
“I beat him (Lumberjacks goalie Jack Helkie) in the same spot on the third goal, as well,” McArthur said.
The Lumberjacks were able to cut into that lead with a minute and a half remaining in the frame, as Mavrik Chan-Miguel netted his second goal of the post season.
But that would be as close as the Lumberjacks would come to getting back on even terms, as Thomas Beard scored his fourth goal of the playoffs 6:45 into the third period.
There was no great secret as to what the Rock did well in Game 2, Saturday night, according to Perry.
“We just played hard,” he said. “We were dialed in on our structure and our penalty killers did a great job.”
The coach was once again impressed by the ability of his top line — McArthur, Hamelin and Lucas Lowe — to elevate their game despite drawing a match-up against the Lumberjacks top checkers.
“K-Mac played a really good game,” Perry said. “They, as a line, were just opportunistic and buried their chances. They played a good game.”
McArthur felt keeping their feet moving was the secret to the line’s success in Game 2.
“They couldn’t hit us when we were going fast out there,” he said.
McArthur is quite familiar with many of the Lumberjack players, given the intensity of the rivalry between his Rock and Hearst — something that is akin to the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens in the NHL.
“I know a lot of them from growing up and playing against them,” he said. “They play a pretty similar game, so I know what to do against them.”
Given the score, it isn’t surprising the Rock coach found no shortage of players who caught his eye in a positive light, Saturday night.
“Cous (Rock goalie Frédéric Cousineau) was really good between the pipes and all 20 of our guys played a solid game tonight,” Perry said.
In terms of fresh injuries, the Rock escaped Saturday night’s contest, for the most part, with just a few extra bumps and bruises.
“Maybe (Rock blue-liner Jack) Quevillon, we will check on him in the morning, to see what’s going on,” Perry said.
Quevillon was on the receiving end of a hard hit to the head that resulted in Lumberjacks forward Ty McKay being ejected from the contest in the third period a play that resulted in him being assessed a five-minute major penalty for head contact and a game misconduct.
The blue-liner returned to the Rock bench, but did not see any shifts following the hit.
While the Rock have a commanding 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series, they know they can’t take their foot off the gas pedal and allow the Lumberjacks to gain any momentum.
“We just have to play hard and play within our structure and we will be all right,” Perry said.
McArthur noted the Rock were a pretty determined group heading into Game 2, Saturday night.
“We really wanted to get this win,” he said. “The second win and the fourth win are the hardest ones to get in any seven-game series.
“We are going to have to play the same way (at home in Game 3) as we played up here. If we do, we will have success.”
McArthur feels the Rock are a confident group heading into Game 3, Monday night.
“We have a good group here and we can do it (win) every night,” he said.
Cousineau stopped 20 of the 22 shots he faced to earn his sixth win of the playoffs.
Helkie, who turned aside 25 of the 30 shots the Rock directed his way, was tagged with the loss.
NOJHL NOTES — The three stars of the game were McArthur (three goals, including game-winner), Rock forward Maxx Hamelin (two assists) and Gavin-White (one goal) … The Rock went 0-4 on the power play, while the Lumberjacks were 0-3 with the man advantage … Official attendance at the Claude Larose Recreation Centre was 343 … The Rock will host the Lumberjacks in Game 3 of the series at the McIntyre Arena, on Monday, at 7 p.m.
