Paper Kings hold off Voodoos

Only one game in the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League last night.

The Espanola Paper Kings edged the Powassan Voodoos 4-2 at the Powassan Sportsplex on Wednesday evening.

The Paper Kings took advantage of an early 5 on 3 power play when Owen Fergusson banged home a puck that bounced off the boards to the right of Patrick Charette which made it 1-0 visitors.

Kyle den Ouden scored late on a nice feed from Owen Fergusson as he beat Charette upstairs with a perfect shot to make it 2-0 late in the first frame.

After the Voodoos pelted 26 shots on Andrew Gaulton in the second frame, Grant Booth gave the Paper Kings a 3-0 lead on a scramble in front of Charette which made it 3-0 Papers Kings after 2.

Early in the third, the Voodoos mounted a comeback as Caden Dubreuil potted his 11th on a hard wrister while driving down the right wing as the Voodoos finally solved Gaulton to make it 3-1.

Near the midway point of the third, the Voodoos pulled within one as Zach Turner drove the net and tucked a pass from Tucker Shields by Gaulton to make it 3-2 at 8:17.

The Voodoos put on more pressure but could not find the equalizer and with just under 30 seconds remaining in regulation Lucas Signoretti iced the victory with an empty net tally which made it 4-2.  

With the loss, the Voodoos drop to 30-18-1-2, while the Paper Kings who are in a battle for the final playoff spot in the NOJHL West, move into 4th ahead of the Soo Eagles by 2 points with a record of 32-19-1.