Timmins Rock forward Evan Katic and Hearst Lumberjacks forward Mathieu Comeau watch the path of the puck after engaging in battle during Sunday afternoon’s NOJHL contest at the Claude Larose Recreation Centre. It took overtime, but the Rock defeated the Lumberjacks 5-4 to sweep their two-game weekend series and extend their winning streak to 21-straight games. Photo by GARY ROSEVEAR /NOJHL Network
The Timmins Rock (27-5-0-1) now trail the Greater Sudbury Cubs (28-6-1-2) by four points in the race for top spot in the NOJHL standings, but they have four games in hand on their rivals
Thomas Perry
The Daily Press/Postmedia Network
HEARST — Kaeden McArthur’s power-play goal 5:16 into overtime lifted the Timmins Rock to a 5-4 win over the Lumberjacks at the Claude Larose Recreation Centre, Sunday afternoon.
The win, the Rock’s 21st-straight victory, gave them a sweep of their two-game weekend series, after they posted a 6-2 victory at the McIntyre Arena, Friday night.
And the Rock (27-5-0-1) now trail the Greater Sudbury Cubs (28-6-1-2) by four points in the race for top spot in the NOJHL standings, but they have four games in hand on their rivals.
Meanwhile, the Lumberjacks (21-8-0-3) trail the Powassan Voodoos (22-9-0-2) in the battle for this place, although they have a game in hand.
“It was a little closer than it should have been,” said Rock coach and general manager Brandon Perry.
“They (Lumberjacks) played hard, but we weren’t sharp. At certain moments, our breakdowns were big, but other than that we played a good game. The first two periods, I really liked out game. In the third period, with seven minutes left, obviously I expected our guys to close it out, but we had to do it the hard way. Any time you win in Hearst, it’s a good win.”
The first period of Sunday afternoon’s contest at the Claude Larose Recreation Centre saw the Rock and Lumberjacks exchange goals.
Edan Etheridge’s third goal in four games since being acquired by the Rock gave the visitors the lead 15 minutes into the opening frame.
But Cameron Menard’s 32nd tally of the campaign tied things up just over two minutes later.
Thomas Beard’s 14th goal of the season restored the Rock’s advantage in the middle frame.
Mathieu Comeau’s 22nd marker of the campaign tied things up for the Lumberjacks, at 2-2, two minutes into the third period.
It looked as if the Rock had taken command of the contest when blue-liner Matthew Kim scored a pair of goals, his ninth and 10th of the season, three-and-a-half minutes apart, with the first coming on the power play.
However, the Lumberjacks who dropped a 6-2 home-ice decision the Cubs, Saturday night, were determined to salvage at least a single point from their three-game weekend and they scored twice in the final four minutes of the third period to force overtime.
Julien Trudel, with his sixth goal of the season, and Comeau, with his second of the afternoon and 23rd of the campaign, supplied those markers.
That set the stage for McArthur’s game-winning heroics and he delivered his 28th goal of the season, to ensure the Rock’s winning streak would hit 21 games.
“Ayden Mullen was really good for us in net this afternoon,” Perry said, when asked which Rock players stood out for him Sunday afternoon.
“He is very confident and he made some big saves, especially in the first period to keep us in the game.
“Kimmer (Kim) had a good game and I thought Jack Quevillon played really well. All our D were pretty good.”
Perry got a chance to see his newest blue-liner, Brady Bouchard, in the back-to-back games against the Lumberjacks.
“He is a real good player, a real veteran presence in our lineup,” he said. “He is very vocal and he actually set up our OT winner on the power play.
“We were okay up front. We had some heavy shifts. Beardo (Beard), Army (Ryan Armitage) and Nolan (Masson) had a good game, again, but we had a couple of passengers this afternoon. Some guys are playing through some stuff. They are a little banged up and not at their best.”
Rock goalie Ayden Mullen stopped 33 of the 37 shots he faced to earn his 12th win of the season.
Jack Helkie, who turned aside 32 of the 37 shots the Rock directed his way, was tagged with the loss.
NOJHL NOTES — The three stars of Sunday’s game were McArthur (one goal), Comeau (two goals, one assist) and Kim (two goals) … The Rock went 2-4 on the power play Sunday, while the Lumberjacks were 0-5 with the man advantage … Official attendance at the Claude Larose Recreation Centre on Sunday was 537 … Sunday’s only other contest saw the Beavers dump the Iroquois Falls Storm 6-2 in Blind River … The Rock will return to action Tuesday when they host the Powassan Voodoos at the McIntyre Arena, at 7 p.m.
