KIRKLAND LAKE - After upsetting the Gold Miners 2-1 Tuesday night, the Abitibi Eskimos couldn’t complete a sweep of their home-and-home series Saturday night at the Joe Mavrinac Community Complex.
The home side got a pair of goals from Bryan Lubin, his fourth and fifth of the season, and went on to clock the Eskimos 6-1, despite being outshot 25-24.
Lubin’s first goal of the game, 3:55 into the first period, staked the Gold Miners to a 1-0 lead.
The Eskimos were able to get back on even terms before the end of the period, however, when Brenden Locke beat Kirkland Lake goalie Josh Erickson for his 31st goal of the season.
Joel Fortin’s power-play marker, his 15th goal of the season, put the home side in front for good early in the second period.
Lubin’s second goal of the night six-and-a-half minutes later made it a 3-1 hockey game before the end of the middle frame.
The Eskimos pulled starting goalie Logan Ferrington in favour of backup Chet Tooker prior to the start of the third period, but the move failed to provide the desired switch in momentum.
In fact, the third period was all Gold Miners.
Goals by Alexi Rivest, his sixth of the season, and Hearst native Ryan Aubertin, his 24th of the season, just over a minute apart put the home side in front 5-1 and killed any hope the Eskimos might have had of a third-period comeback.
Tristen Hazlett’s 17th goal of the season added a little icing on the cake for the Gold Miners and made the final score 6-1.
Erickson made 24 saves to pick up the victory for the Gold Miners, while Ferrinton, who stopped 13 of the 16 shots he faced, was tagged with the loss for the Eskimos. Tooker turned aside five of the eight shots the Gold Miners fired his way in relief.
The Eskimos take on the West Division-leading Soo Thunderbirds Sunday afternoon at the Jus Jordan Arena.
Game time is 2 p.m.
The Gold Miners will return to action on Tuesday night when they travel to Cochrane for a game against the Crunch at the Tim Horton Event Centre.
