Lakeshore hands Essex first loss of the season

Nick Bolton made 46 saves to backstop the Lakeshore Canadiens to a 4-3 win at home over the Essex 73's Friday night. The win handed the 73's their first loss of the season through 15 games.

Kyle Walker opened the scoring for the Habs at 5:08 of the first with his 5th of the season. Nick Cameron tied it up five minutes later. Trevor Larue scored the first of two goals late in the first as Lakeshore held a 2-1 lead into the third.

Larue and Eric Bisson would give the Canadiens a 4-1 lead but Essex made a comeback. Liam Hall at 11:50 and Nate Dowling at 14:08 scored for the visitors cutting the deficit to one goal but that's as close as the 73's would get.

Lakeshore extends their winning streak to four games and find themselves two points behind Blenheim (with a game in hand) and Wheatley (with two games in hand) who are tied for 2nd in the Stobbs division. Essex continues to lead the PJHL with 28 points.

Lakeshore is at Mooretown Saturday night while Essex hosts Amherstburg Tuesday.