Big 3rd period sends Blind River past Espanola

BLIND RIVER, Ont. – The Blind River Beavers picked up a trio of third period goals to break open a tie game as they went on to defeat the Espanola Express 4-1 Thursday evening in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League match-up at the Blind River Community Centre.

Blind River got on the board first six and a half minutes into the match-up when Christopher Carr-Ansah picked up his initial tally as a member of the Beavers.

Action in the middle stanza saw the Express get on track as Joel Grandbois secured his second of season at 5:17.

The home side went back in front nine minutes into the third thanks to Eric Leblanc’s first in the NOJHL, which proved to be the game-winning goal.

Shorthanded later in the frame, Blind River added some insurance as Caleb Serre struck with his side down a man as his team-leading 13th of the campaign and also gave him at least one point in four straight.

Owen Robinson then iced it for the home side with a minute and a half to go to round out the night’s scoring.

Shots on goal in the contest favoured the Beavers by a 32-29 count with Michael Corson picking up the victory for Blind River while Jacob Hutching suffered the setback for Espanola.