It was an unexpected time, but the Soo Thunderbirds and Greater Sudbury Cubs finally got to play in the Sault on Tuesday.
Weather issues caused the Cubs trip to the Sault to be delayed on Monday, forcing the postponement of the third game in their second round Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League series. The game was ultimately moved to late Tuesday afternoon at the John Rhodes Community Centre, a game in which the Cubs won by a 6-3 margin.
As a result, Sudbury now holds a 3-0 series lead on the Thunderbirds after picking up a pair of wins at home to open the series.
Sudbury opened the scoring as Lucas Signoretti got the puck in the right faceoff circle off a pass from Spencer Horgan and beat Thunderbirds goaltender Noah Metivier stick side 4:40 into the game.
The Thunderbirds tied the game as James Legler went to the net and beat Sudbury goalie Karsen Chartier on a rebound after defenceman Bryan Fenlon’s initial shot from the right point was stopped at 17:13.
Sudbury would take a 2-1 lead into the dressing room after one period as Lucas Antonioni beat Metivier from the slot in traffic with 1:27 to go in the period.
With just under six minutes to go in the second period, Sudbury made it a 3-1 game thanks to a power-play goal. Mason Walker deflated a backhand from the left circle by Horgan past Metivier.
The Thunderbirds pulled back to within one goal 17 seconds later as Deven Jones-McDonald went to the net on a partial break and beat Chartier as he was hooked by a Sudbury defender.
The locals then tied the game at three at 15:12 as Legler got into open ice and redirected a pass from Jones-McDonald past Chartier.
Sudbury took a 4-3 lead with 1:47 to go in the middle period as Nolan Newton converted a chance in right, beating Metivier.
In the third period, Brock Chitaroni beat Metivier from a sharp angle at 7:56 to give Sudbury a 5-3 lead and Horgan sealed the win with an empty net goal with 2:08 to go.
In addition to Legler’s two-goal night, Jones-McDonald had a goal and an assist while Fenlon and Declan Gallivan assisted on a pair of goals each.
Metivier made 24 saves.
Horgan paced Sudbury with a goal and three assists.
Signoretti and Walker added a goal and an assist each for the Cubs.
Chartier stopped 27 shots.
Sudbury will look to close out the series on Wednesday night when the teams meet for Game 4 at the John Rhodes Community Centre. Puck drop is 7 p.m.