It looked bleak for a stretch for the Soo Thunderbirds on Friday night, but a strong finish helped the team to a key win.
Trailing 4-0 early in the second period, the Thunderbirds reeled off six unanswered goals in a 6-4 victory over the Blind River Beavers Friday in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League action at the John Rhodes Community Centre.
After the Beavers scored a pair of goals 32 seconds apart in the opening period, Blind River extended the lead with goals 11 seconds apart before the second period was two minutes old.
Lucas Theriault gave the Thunderbirds life by getting the home team on the board 2:55 into the second period and kick-starting the Sault’s scoring barrage.
Theriault finished the night with a pair of goals while Nick Smith had a goal and three assists for the locals.
Gage Stephney had a goal and two assists, as did Kaidan McDonald.
Avery Rebek also scored for the Thunderbirds.
Goaltender Colin Ahern made 18 saves.
Ryan Peck, Tyler Nott, Brendan Young, and Sam Harris scored for Blind River.
Beavers goaltender Garret Boyonoski stopped 32 shots.
Winners of six consecutive games and eight of their last 10, the Thunderbirds improve to 20-5-0-0 while the Beavers fall to 15-9-4-1.
Next up for the Thunderbirds is a road game in Elliot Lake on Saturday night against the Wildcats before the team wraps up the weekend with a Sunday afternoon game in Espanola against the Express.