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Brent Cochrane scored with 1:22 remaining in overtime to give the Minto-Mapleton 81s a 5-4 win over the Walkerton Capitals Friday night in WOAA Senior AA hockey action.

It was Walkerton’s first game since Dec. 9 (a 3-2 overtime loss to the Shelburne Muskies) but the Caps came out quick. 

Walkerton was penalized early, but scored on the penalty-kill for a 1-0 lead less than two minutes in. The shorthanded goal came on a Brandon Fraser slap-shot.

Andy Cline scored  from Cory MacDonald and Curt Robinson at 7:53, but the 81s made it 2-1 before the first intermission on a Todd Norman goal.

Cline’s second of the game, and seventh of the season, came on a second-period powerplay. His one-timer finished a three-way passing play with Shawn Bechtloff and Adam Corbett. Norman’s second of the night made it 3-2, and the 81s tied the game when Mike Lankshear scored from Abe Herbst.

Minto-Mapleton took its first lead in the third period when Andrew Whalen scored with a snapshot from the left side. Lankshear and Norman had assists on the powerplay goal. It was Norman’s third point of the game.

The Caps tied the game with 6:10 remaining in regulation. Tyler McAfee scored from Brady Houston and Corbett to make it 4-4 . 

Jason Hamilton was again great in the Walkerton net, but was beaten with a perfect shot from Cochrane late in the overtime period. Mike Fisher assisted on Cochrane’s game winner, which improved the 81s to 7-7-0-2.

The single point put the Caps three points back of Lucknow in the final playoff position. The two teams will meet Friday night for a big game in Lucknow. That one starts at 8:30 p.m. The Caps will also play at home Saturday night. The Durham Thundercats will be in Walkerton for an early 6:30 p.m. start.

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Monday, January 02, 2012