Timmins Rock forward Ryan Armitage slips the puck through the five-hole on Espanola Paper Kings goalie James Meredith for a shorthanded goal during the second period of Friday night’s NOJHL contest at the McIntyre Arena. Armitage’s seventh goal of the season helped the Rock dump the Paper Kings 8-2, extending their winning streak to eight games. THOMAS PERRY/THE DAILY PRESS jpg, TD, apsmc
The Timmins Rock overpowered the Espanola Paper Kings 8-2 at the McIntyre Arena Friday night to extend their winning streak to eight games.
Thomas Perry
The Daily Press/Postmedia Network
It was a penalty filled game, with a number of players from each squad ejected from the contest.
On the ice, the Rock tallied five power-play markers and a shorthanded goal to put the special in special teams.
Playing in his 100th NOJHL contest, Kaeden McArthur got the puck rolling for the Rock when he scored his 11th goal of the season 56 seconds into the game.
Jack Kelly then netted the first of his two power-play markers, his 12th goal of the season, just past the midway mark of the opening period.
Just 41 seconds later, Kai Clayton scored his first goal in a Rock uniform, a marker that would stand up to be the game-winning tally.
“It felt good to get that first one, I had some chances previously, so it felt good to get it,” he said.
“(Reece) Liu chipped it and it kind of came across the ice and K-Mac (McArthur) was with me, so I was kind of looking to try and get it over to him but the D-man took it (the pass) away, so I just saw the goalie’s five-hole and I put the puck there and it went in.
“Getting the game-winner was cool but it would have been even nicer if it had been a bit closer of a game, although it still feels good.”
Kelly followed with his second power-play marker of the period, his 13th goal of the campaign.
That goal signaled the end of Espanola starting goalie Jack Helkie’s night, with James Meredith coming into the contest in relief.
With less than two minutes remaining in the period, Alexis Tremblay added the Rock’s third power-play marker, his seventh goal of the season to increase the home side’s advantage to 5-0 heading into the first intermission.
Lucas Lowe’s power-play marker, his seven goal of the campaign, 50 seconds into the middle frame kept the puck rolling.
And Ryan Armitage intercepted an Espanola pass at the Rock blue-line and raced in all alone to beat Meredith with a shorthanded marker to make it a 7-0 hockey game less than two minutes later.
The Paper Kings finally got on the scoreboard when Graydon Guthrie netted a power-play marker, his 13th goal of the season, just past the midway mark in the frame.
The man-advantage markers continued on the third period with Kaden Wicklander scoring his seventh goal of the campaign.
Henry McLellan responded with his eighth tally of the season, also a power-play marker to close out the scoring and make the final 8-2 in favour of the Rock.
The Rock have made a number of lineup changes in recent weeks and Clayton feels everybody is starting to feel comfortable together.
“We are all brothers and everything seems to be clicking right now,” he said.
“Hopefully, we can just keep it rolling.”
Clayton, who was playing in his eighth game with the Rock after starting the year with the Gold Miners in Kirkland Lake, noted it took some time to get use to his new team.
“It is super structured here and we dial in everything from game to game, but it is fun hockey and it’s good to be here,” he said.
Rock goalie Dryden Riley stopped 29 of the 31 shots he faced to earn his 13th win of the season.
Helkie, who turned aside 10 of the 14 shots the Rock directed his was in his 14:25 of work, was tagged with the loss.
Meredith blocked 25 of the 29 shots he faced in his 45:35 of relief.
NOJHL NOTES — The Daily Press three stars of the game were Kelly, McArthur and Clayton … The Rock went 5-8 on the power play, while the Paper Kings were 2-8 with the man advantage … Official attendance at the McIntyre Arena was 790 … Friday’s other action saw the Lumberjacks topples the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners 8-3 in Hearst and the Vikings double up the French River Rapids 6-3 in Elliot Lake. The game between the Soo Eagles and the Beavers in Blind River was postponed due to weather … The Rock will take on the Storm in Iroquois Falls on Saturday, at 7:30 p.m. The next home game will be on Sunday, Dec. 8, when the Rock host the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners at the McIntyre Arena, at 1 p.m.
