Povorozniouk strikes early in 2nd OT as Eagles clip Voodoos

An Alex Povorozniuk goal, 32 seconds into double overtime, gave the Soo Eagles a 4-3 victory over the Powassan Voodoos Tuesday evening in Game 3 of their Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League quarter-final at Pullar Stadium.

As a result, Sault Ste. Marie now leads their best-of-seven series 3-0 and will look to finish it off Wednesday as they host Game 4 in a 7 p.m. start back at Pullar Stadium, while Powassan will look to stave off elimination and extend the match-up.

The Eagles struck first as a puck put through the slot in the Soo end allowed Samuel Gold to race in on a breakaway, where he cut to his left and elevated a backhand over the pad of Voodoos’ netminder Derrick Champagne, just over 12 minutes in.

Countering with an equalizer at 14:53, Powassan defenceman Bruce Grey moved in from the point and fired a feed across that Jax Pereira hammered in with a one-timer that flew past Soo starter Jace Knoerle.

Retaking the lead in wanning moments of the frame, Logan Stawizynski put the Eagles back on top as he came out from behind the net and snagged a loose puck that he whipped in at 19:24.

In the middle stanza, the Voodoos drew level once more as Owen Head finished off a two-on-one with Benjamin Coupal near the midway point of the proceedings.

The Soo came back to go back in front, early in the third, thanks to Jacob Peterson tipping in a play put to the net from Anden Marceau.

Continuing to go back and forth, Pereira scored shorthanded to force extra time as he raced in on Knoerle and neatly tucked in the equalizer with 5:19 remaining in regulation.

In the initial OT, same quality chances chance by both sides in the fast-paced period were denied by the respective goaltenders, to send the game to a second extra session.

There, the Eagles countered quickly in transition from the own end that led to Lucas Caulfield firing a pass in front that Povorozniouk steered while driving hard to the crease for the game-winner.

NOJHL quarter-final

No. 2 Powassan Voodoos vs. No. 7 Soo Eagles

Game 1: Eagles 7, Voodoos 4
Game 2: Eagles 6, Voodoos 1
Game 3: Eagles 4, Voodoos 3 (2OT)
Game 4: Wednesday, March 25 @ Soo 7 p.m. (Pullar Stadium)
Game 5*: Friday, March 27 @ Powassan 7 p.m. (Powassan Sportsplex)
Game 6*: Sunday, March 29 @ Soo 6 p.m. (Pullar Stadium)
Game 7*: Tuesday, March 31 @ Powassan 7 p.m. (Powassan Sportsplex)
*-if necessary

Soo leads best-of-seven series 3-0