Photos: voodooshockey.com
POWASSAN, Ont. – A deflection goal credited to Hudson Chitaroni, 14:07 into overtime, propelled the Greater Sudbury Cubs to a dramatic 4-3 victory over the Powassan Voodoos Monday night in the fourth game of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League championship series, held at the Powassan Sportsplex.
The result sees the Cubs taking a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven match-up, with a chance to wrap it up Thursday on home ice in a 7:05 p.m. start at Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex and on FLOHockey.tv.
Powassan generated a number of quality chances to commence play, but a couple of big saves by Noah Metivier in the Greater Sudbury net kept it scoreless through the opening minutes in the match-up.
It was the Cubs who countered to strike first as Samuel Assinewai knocked down a clearing attempt and worked it over to Chitaroni, who buried his playoff-leading 11th tally of the postseason at 12:36.
Supplying an equalizer, moments into a double minor, the Voodoos drew level when Alex Little and Chase Thompson provided the passing that allowed Mathieu MacMillan to whip a shot past Metivier.
The tally snapped a run of 116 minutes and 34 seconds that Greater Sudbury had been on without allowing a goal.
Converting once more via the man advantage, Powassan took the lead at 17:57, on a five-on-three, when Cameron Lemcke sent a low attempt from up high that sailed past bodies jammed in front into the bottom-left corner.
Drawing even with a man advantage effort of their own, midway through the second stanza, the Cubs’ Nolan Newton blasted a one-timer from the left circle off an Ethan Larmand cross-ice feed that managed to get through goalkeeper Daniel Dirracolo.
Remaining 2-2 into the third period, Powassan went ahead with at 13:38 after controlling a draw the led to Chase Thompson shovelling a backhand from in deep to an open MacMillan, who lifted in his second of the night.
Coming right back, the visitors tied it in quick order with Newton stuffing in a loose puck off a Noah Kohan shot that rang off the post.
Heading to extra time, the Chitaroni won a face-off over to Assinewai, who worked his way up top and sent a shot from just inside the blueline that Chitaroni appeared to tip in for the game-winner.
The OT setback was the first in seven contests that Powassan has suffered in these playoffs.
The NOJHL champion moves on to the Centennial Cup, presented by Tim Hortons, May 9-19, in Oakville, Ont.
NOJHL Final
Powassan Voodoos vs. Greater Sudbury Cubs
Greater Sudbury leads best-of-seven series 3-1
Game 1: Voodoos 5 Cubs 2
Game 2: Cubs 2 Voodoos 0
Game 3: Cubs 5 Voodoos 0
Game 4: Cubs 4 Voodoos 3 (OT)
Game 5: Thursday, April 25 @ Sudbury 7:05 p.m. (Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex)
Game 6*: Sunday, April 28 @ Powassan 2 p.m. (Powassan Sportsplex)
Game 7*: Tuesday, April 30 @ Sudbury 7:05 p.m. (Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex)
*-if necessary
