Brock Grandbois scored twice as Essex knocked off winless Wallaceburg 5-2 in the Provincial Junior Hockey League.
Ryan Sterling added two assists, and Jax D'hondt made 16 saves in Tuesday's game.
The win moves the 73's to within two points of first-place Dresden in the Stobbs Division.
Essex is on the road Friday to face the Kings with a share of the top spot on the line.