A four-goal first period, along with the shutout goaltending of Noah Metivier, sent the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League-leading Greater Sudbury Cubs on their way to a 4-0 triumph over the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners Thursday, Nov. 30 at Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex.
Boasting 19 victories when scoring first in a game so far this season, Greater Sudbury would make it 20 a couple of minutes into the contest when Ryan Rubic deflected in a shot from the right point off rookie defenceman Hudson Martin that eluded Kirkland Lake netminder Trent Boryszczuk.
Going ahead by two, a between-the-legs pass by Samuel Assinewai moved the Cubs up ice. There, Oliver Smith finished off a give-and-go with Cameron Shanks by tipping it over the glove of the Gold Miners’ goal keeper at 5:26.
With the marker, Smith reaches the 20-goal mark this season, while also notching his 75th in league play.
Tacking on two more before the intermission, Greater Sudbury took control of the game, up by four after one period.
Their third in the session was supplied by Mateo Signoretti’s initial NOJHL marker as he shovelled in a loose puck laying in front off a Ben Lacroix backhand attempt.
Shanks then connected at 19:05 after being left with an open net to shoot at against a downed Boryszczuk.
In the middle session, both clubs battled hard, but neither side converted offensively, keeping the hosts up by four.
In a spirited final frame, which also went without any further goals, Metivier posted his second shutout of the season, and the 12th over his time in the league.
Winners of five straight, the Cubs move to 23-6-0-0 overall and in defeat, the Gold Miners drop to 6-17-3-1.
The Greaters Sudbury Cubs are on the road next to face the Blind River Beavers at the Blind River Community Centre Dec. 2. Puck drops at 7 p.m.
