Pereira powers Powassan past Espanola in OT
Powassan Voodoos forward Jax Pereira tied the game late in regulation, then ripped in the game-winner while going in alone 4:35 into overtime, to lift his side to a dramatic 3-2 victory over the Espanola Paper Kings Saturday in an action-packed Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League affair at the Regional Recreation Complex.
The Voodoos were quick to take flight on the night as Heath Bradley benefitted from a play that skipped into the slot that he promptly pumped over the shoulder of Paper Kings starter Jack Helkie just 2:42 into the proceedings.
Espanola drew level on a man advantage deep into second stanza as a Carter Brownlee shot from the high slot flipped around in front where Graydon Guthrie eventually finished off a frenzied goal-mouth scramble at 16:03.
Striking in the first minute of the third, Joseph Coates put the Paper Kings in front as his harmless looking dump in from centre ice bounced out off the end boards, then clipped off a Powassan defenceman and fluttered over the pad of Champagne.
Looking to capitalize on a late power play and with their goalkeeper out for an additional skater, Pereira cranked in a one-timer from the right circle past a diving Helkie who had lost his goal stick moments before to knot the affair with 44 seconds to play.
Moving to OT, a strong back check saw Cayden Kowal chip the puck away from an Espanola forward near his own blueline then counter quickly down the right side in transition where he tossed a feed into the slot that a hard-charging Pereira scooped up, then wheeled in and wired the game-winner into the top left hand corner to end it.
The victory sees the Voodoos improve to 8-1-0-1 on the season while the Paper Kings pick up a point in defeat as they fell to 8-4-0-1 overall.
