ESPANOLA – Espanola Rivermen captain Brad Edwards had a goal and set-up two others to help lead his team to a 5-2 victory over the Sudbury Nickel Barons Sunday afternoon in game 2 of their Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League quarter-final series at the Espanola Regional Recreation Complex.
With the result of today’s game the Rivermen lead the best-of-seven affair 2-0 heading into game 3 Monday evening, at 7:30 p.m. at McClelland Arena in Copper Cliff.
A tight-checking opening period saw neither side score as Sudbury’s Michael Muzyka and Espanola’s Marc Terriault kept opposing shooters at bay.
Special teams allowed the Nickel Barons to open the scoring early in the middle stanza as Brett Dusick struck shorthanded at 2:10 of the frame as he buried the feed from August Jarecki.
Brandon Janke tied it seven minutes later only to see Ryan Punkari put the visitors back on top midway through the session.
The Rivermen responded again in the period striking twice in a span of 64 seconds to pull even and eventually take the lead for good.
Brennen Dubchak potted the equalizer at 18:19 while Corbin Bean notched the eventual game-winner at 19:23.
Edwards added some insurance and he connected 23 seconds into the final frame while Robert Smythe iced it with 9:48 left to conclude the scoring in the contest.
Blake Peavey and Daniel Robertson both chipped with a pair of assists each to aid the offensive cause for Espanola.
Shots on goal favoured the Rivermen 33-32 with Terriault picking up the win and Muzyka suffering the loss.
