A Tomas Yachmenev breakaway goal with 38 seconds remaining in overtime lifted the Powassan Voodoos to a thrilling 4-3 victory over the Timmins Rock in front of 711 fans at McIntyre Arena in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League action Sunday.
Neither side would score in the first period, but Powassan was quick to strike in the second stanza.
On a man advantage that carried over into the frame, the Voodoos struck quickly as Joe Whittet picked up his second of the campaign 12 seconds in.
The visitors then added one at even strength late in the second as Cade Herd connected at 17:53.
Moving on to the third, Timmins tallied twice in short order to knot the affair at 2-2 with Derek Seguin and Riley Robitaille striking 62 seconds apart.
The goal for Seguin was his fourth in as many outings.
However, Powassan countered on the next shift with Herd adding another to give him a NOJHL-best eight on the season.
Not to be outdone, the Rock were there offensively once more to force extra time when Keegan McMullen supplied the equalizer for Timmins with 8:14 left in regulation.
Moving on to OT and with the two teams skating three aside, a pair of Rock defenders got tangled up at their own blueline, which allowed Yachmenev to dart in alone on Timmins goaltender Tyler Masternak where he made no mistake and snapped in the game-winner low blocker side to end it.
Herd also had two assists in the triumph for a four-point afternoon while teammate Jacob Peterson-Galema chipped in with a pair of helpers.
Joe Vrbetic made 31 saves to pick up the win for Powassan while Masternak faced 24 attempts in defeat for the Rock, who did secure a point in the OT setback.
The win improves the Voodoos league best record to 7-0-1 on the season. They are back on home ice Saturday night when they host the Espanola Express at the Powassan Sportsplex.
