GALLERY: Cochrane holds off Timmins rally with OT win

TIMMINS, Ont. – Justin Bofshever’s second goal of the game, coming 2:05 into overtime, helped the Cochrane Crunch hold off a comeback bid by the Timmins Rock as they prevailed with a 5-4 victory in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League action Tuesday evening in front of 868 spectators at McIntyre Arena.

Entering the contest having gone 7-2-0-1 in the past 10 outings, Cochrane was quick to open the scoring on this night as Zach Hayes connected 34 seconds in on an early man advantage opportunity.

The Crunch added another just over two minutes later as Nicolas Flanders set-up Trent Grimshaw for his eighth of the campaign.

It was more from the visitors at 8:23 thanks to Ethan Emanuel, however the home side countered on the next shift to commence the Rock’s annual Teddy Bear Toss Night, with Josh Dickson’s 10th setting off the stuffed toys being cascaded onto the ice.

Continuing to click offensively, Cochrane added another at 12:11 on a Bofshever tally that saw Timmins replace starter Tyler Masternak’s night in favour of Jean-Marc Brisson who wrapped up the frame in net before Masternak returned to commence the second.

The goaltending change seemed to spark the Rock as they countered a minute and a half later to pull within two as Matt Capisciolto knocked in his 10th to finish off the six-goal barrage in the first period.

Action in the middle session saw the Crunch out shoot the Rock 16-4, but neither side would convert offensively in the scoreless stanza as the guests carried their two-goal lead into the third.

There, Timmins drew closer at 8:05 when Derek Seguin buried his team-leading 20th tally to make it a 4-3 score.

They then forced extra time with 2:28 left in regulation on Gage Tremblay’s equalizer in the late going.

Moving on to OT, Bofshever won it to give his side the extra point on the night.

Bradley Dobson in the Crunch net made 20 stops to record the win.

Masternak saved 22 of 27 in defeat while Brisson handled both shots he saw in relief.

With the result, 21-14-0-2 Cochrane moves into a tie with 21-11-2-0 Timmins for second spot in the East Division with the Rock however holding three games in hand on the Crunch.

Game Photos courtesy of  Thomas Perry, The Daily Press (Timmins)