ESPANOLA, Ont. – The Cochrane Crunch collected a pair of third period power play goals to earn a 3-2 come from behind victory over the Espanola Express Saturday in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League play at the Regional Recreation Complex.
Cochrane connected early to take the lead in this one as Kobe Barrette picked up his second of the season, which came 3:05 into the match-up.
Countering, the Express got on track 10 and a half minutes later with Cole Delarosbil knotting the affair.
Espanola then went in front late in the first as they capitalized on the power play when Alex Simard finishing off the work of teammates Camilo Rodrique-Melo and Josh Boucher.
Neither side would get a goal in a scoreless middle session as the home side carried their slim lead into the third.
On the power play to begin the third, the Crunch picked up the equalizer 57 seconds in as Matthew Minichiello knocked in his 11th of the campaign.
Not done there, Cochrane’s special teams clicked yet half way through the session on an Owen Perala man advantage effort that proved to be the difference maker.
The guests held firm defensively from there to secure the road decision.
Crunch netminder Tomi Gagnon made 32 saves to record the win while Express starter Joel Rainville had 28 stops in defeat.
