HEARST, Ont. – A Shane Beaulieu goal with 3:15 remaining in regulation was game-winner as the Powassan Voodoos pulled out a narrow 4-3 victory over the Hearst Lumberjacks Saturday night in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League action at Claude Larose Arena.
Special teams were pivotal in the first two periods of the contest with each side scoring once while shorthanded and adding another via the power play.
Down a man in the opening frame, Morgan Scriber put Hearst on the board five minutes into the match-up before Dylan D’Agostino tallied for a third straight game for the Voodoos, during a man advantage opportunity at 8:24.
Heading into the second period, it was Powassan’s turn to connect while shorthanded as Quintin Loon-Stewardson’s 13th goal of the campaign put the visitors in front.
A late power play helped the Lumberjacks draw level as Shadow Reuben buried an Austin Anselmo feed past Voodoos’ netminder Christian Cicigoi with 25 seconds left in the session.
Action in the third frame saw Max Johnson give Hearst a 3-2 lead at 6:28 only to see Powassan’s Nicolas Case supply the equalizer a mere 41 seconds later.
The set the stage for Beaulieu’s difference maker in the latter stages of the contest to help the NOJHL-leading Voodoos improve to 27-3-1-2 on the year.
Wade Auger had two assists for the Lumberjacks.
Cicigoi finished with 34 stops to record the win.
Matt Kustra faced 32 shots in defeat for the Lumberjacks who fell to 13-15-2-0 in this their first season in the NOJHL.