Game Photos: Emily Martin
COCHRANE, Ont. – The vaunted Hearst Lumberjacks power play produced two more tallies Thursday night as part of a 4-1 win over the Cochrane Crunch in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League encounter at Tim Horton Events Centre.
Hearst began the proceedings with the evening’s initial tally as Dylan Ford cruised in on a two-on-one and patiently waited on the left side before ripping one past Cochrane netminder Michael Nickolau.
Some nifty work on the man advantage saw Liam Doyle lift a backhand into the upper portion of the net as the Lumberjacks’ league-leading power play clicked for a 10th time on the season.
Cochrane did get one back as Liam Boswell buried a crisp cross-crease pass from Benjamin Orgil to put the home side on the board with his first in the NOJHL.
However, Hearst went up a skater and converted again as Mason Bazaluk finished off a nice three-way passing play, from the slot, for his club’s 11th extra-man effort overall.
Adding to their lead in the second, Tyren Grimsdale darted down the left wing and neatly picked the corner to put the guests up 4-1 at 15:35.
The Crunch had a great chance to get back in it seven minutes into the third, only to be foiled Hearst netminder Liam Oxner, who flashed the leather on a two-man breakaway.
It remained scoreless, as well, the rest of away as the Lumberjacks picked up the road decision.
Zachary Demers dished out two assists to chip in offensively for the winners.
Hearst held a 46-25 edge in shots on goal with Oxner getting the win while Nickolau was busy in defeat.