IROQUOIS FALLS, Ont. – A four-goal third period outburst helped the Iroquois Falls Storm pull out a much-needed 4-2 victory against the Espanola Paper Kings in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League matchup at Jus Jordan Arena.
The Storm held a big edge in shots on goal in the opening 20 minutes, but Espanola netminder Logan Vale, as well as Nathan Boudreau, between the pipes for Iroquois Falls, kept it scoreless.
Breaking the deadlock late in the middle session, the Paper Kings’ Joseph Coates steered in a loose puck off a Carter Drigo chance at 18:33.
With the second assist on the marker, Graydon Guthrie extended a point streak to seven straight outings with his 30th helper of the campaign.
In the third period, Simon Lemieux got the home side going nearly six minutes in when he darted out from behind the net before spinning and wiring one upstairs on Vale.
Going to work on special teams, the Storm then struck twice on the power play, 34 seconds apart, to go up by a pair.
Taking the lead on a five-on-three, Alexandre St. Pierre used a slight pump fake in the right circle and ripped in a rising wrister at 9:09.
Bryson Villeneau’s first with Iroquois Falls saw him get a piece of an Owen Logan attempt from up top, while still up a skater, to make it 3-1.
Getting back to within one at 14:25, Espanola’s Michael Morascyzk lifted in a shot from between the circles to close the gap.
However, Lemieux sealed the deal with a late empty netter, during a man advantage, as he raced in and deposited his second of the session, with just over a minute to go to secure the result.
With the win, Iroquois Falls raises their record to 14-28-2-3 overall, to move within three points of eighth place Kirkland Lake in the race for the league’s final playoff spot.
In defeat, the Paper Kings drop to 24-19-1-3.
