ESPANOLA, Ont. – Zachary Matyasik tallied twice in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League action Friday at the Regional Recreation Complex as the Espanola Express defeated the Elliot Lake Wildcats 5-3.
The home side got going offensively early in the contest as Cole Delarosbil collected his second of the campaign 3:19 in.
Countering, the Wildcats answered with the equalizer a couple shifts later when Owen Kruse connected on the power play to knot the affair.
Espanola answered that 10 minutes later as Matyasik picked up his first of the night to put them back on top through one period of play.
The see-saw affair saw Elliot Lake knot the score once more when Jordan Ritchie’s first league marker came at 2:34 as the visitors notched their second man advantage effort of the night.
Continuing to trade tallies, Connor Taylor gave the Wildcats the lead a couple of shifts later, only to see Matyasik answer 17 seconds after that to level the proceedings once more.
The goals kept coming from the Express in the session as Bradley Brunet and Jonah Devereux both scored to make it 5-3 Espanola after 40 minutes.
Neither side would connect offensively in a scoreless third period as Espanola held firm defensively to secure the home ice triumph.
Joel Rainville made 29 saves to record the win for the Express while Wildcats netminder Dominic Boily faced 47 shots in defeat.
