Herd leads Voodoos to dramatic OT win

Cade Herd’s goal with 38 seconds remaining in overtime was the difference as the Powassan Voodoos rallied to defeat the French River Rapids 3-2 Monday in a well-played Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League contest at the Powassan Sportsplex.

French River picked up the evening’s initial tally 7:13 into the contest as Connor Loft collected his first of the season, moments after a Powassan penalty had expired.

Loft then upped the visitors lead to two early in the second as he did convert this time during a man advantage opportunity.

Battling back, the Voodoos got on the board during a power play of their own as Tomas Yachmenev supplied his third of the campaign to make it 2-1 after 40 minutes.

Powassan then drew level 6:07 into the third thanks to Henry Scott, who picked up his second of the season.

The clubs traded chances throughout the rest of the frame, but neither side would connect as the match-up went to OT.

Skating three aside in the initial five-minute extra session in NOJHL league play in2018-19, both teams had chances, but no one could not connect until the final minute of the frame.

There, after a dump in Powassan’s zone, Scott shoveled the puck around the net where Jacob Peterson-Galema got it over to Herd who skated down the right side and proceeded to wire the game-winner high over the shoulder of French River goaltender Kevin Donaghey to end it.

The tally for Herd, who earlier in the day was tabbed as one of the league’s most recent 3 Stars of the Week, also helped him extend a point streak to 13 games dating back to last season.  The game winning goal was also Herd's 100th career point in the NOJHL.  

Levi Siau had two assists for the Rapids to run a modest point streak to three along the way.

Christian Cicigoi was solid in net for the Voodoos as he finished with 35 stops to record the win.

Donaghey’s efforts helped the Rapids earn a point on a night where he saw 32 shots fired his way in defeat.