POWASSAN, ON - The Cochrane Crunch connected for four goals in the final 10 minutes of regulation - including two empty netters - to earn a 5-2 road victory over the Powassan Voodoos Saturday in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League encounter at the Powassan Sportsplex.
A tight-checking first frame saw it go scoreless with the night’s starting goalkeepers, Tyler Mastermak of Powassan and Cochrane’s Taylor Unruh stopping every shot they faced.
It was the visiting Crunch that broke the ice in the middle stanza when T.J. Delaney picked up his fourth goal of the year at 5:14 to put the visitors in front.
Powassan tied things up early in the third as Voodoos’ defenceman Dayton Murray blasted in his league-leading sixth power-play goal and eight overall at 1:53 of the frame.
Continuing to press, Powassan took the lead at 6:15 thanks to Harrison Israels third goal in September, but Cochrane countered with the equalizer midway through the stanza as Thomas Hernandez picked up his first NOJHL tally on a quick shot that deflected off Masternak from a bad angle.
That set the stage for Kyle Podwika to notch the difference maker as he finished off the work Kyle Herbster and Alex Brisson, on another goal Masternak would have liked to have back in his second NOJHL start.
Connor Lovie then added some insurance for Cochrane with a shorthanded, empty net, effort at 18:18 before teammate Austin Stauffer added another empty netter 30 seconds later to round out the night’s scoring.
Hernandez also chipped in with two assists for a three-point night.
Unruh was solid in the Crunch net making 40 saves to in earning the win.
Mastermak faced 25 attempts in defeat for the Voodoos, who suffered their first home loss since back on Feb. 13 of last season.
Despite the loss, Voodoos head coach Beau Moyer says his team did a lot of great things Saturday night.
"Our scoring chances allowed were the lowest of the season," noted Moyer, who suffered his first home loss as a Voodoos coach.
"The boys showed great character battling back in third. We need to be better protecting the puck in offensive zone. Overall I am happy with the effort.
"In the long run, losing in September is a good thing for this group."
The loss drops the Voodoos to 6-2 on the season as they travel to French River on Wednesday night.
