GALLERY: 3rd period surge sends Wildcats past Lumberjacks

ELLIOT LAKE, Ont. – A four-goal third period helped the Elliot Lake Wildcats storm back from a two-tally deficit as they rallied for a 6-4 win over the Hearst Lumberjacks in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League action Saturday night at Centennial Arena.

An early power play helped Elliot Lake open the scoring as Nick Long collected his 23rd tally of the season at 6:32.

Dawson Waddell countered for Hearst six minutes later, but the Wildcats got that back just 19 seconds after that on a Ryan Burlington effort.

The back and forth affair saw the Lumberjacks tie it once more as Waddell notched his second of the evening as he connected on the power play at 15:59.

Hearst would take their first lead of the night early in the middle frame as Wade Auger connected on a man advantage opportunity 61 seconds into the period.

Colin Boudreau then made it 4-2 in the final minute of the session.

However, the third period was all Elliot Lake with Carson Andreoli starting the comeback at 6:47.

The Wildcats then tied it less than a minute later as Long scored for a second time in the game.

He then kept things going by finishing of a hat trick with under eight minutes remaining as his 25th tally of the campaign proved to be the difference maker.

Jacob Kelly then completed the rally with a power play marker in the late going into an empty net to help secure the win.

Burlington, Clark Allair and David Elford all chipped in with two assists apiece for Elliot Lake.

Max Griffioen had three helpers for the Lumberjacks while Samuel Bourdages had an assist in the game to give him points in each of his past seven outings.

The Wildcats held the edge in shots on goal by a 32-31 count with Logan Sawka picking up the win while Matt Kustra suffered the loss.