It’s a battle of the top teams in the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League’s West Division and a split through the opening two games isn’t much of a surprise.
The Rayside-Balfour Canadians scored three unanswered goals to beat the Soo Thunderbirds on Saturday night, evening the best-of-7 series as it shifts to Sault Ste. Marie.
Kyle Liinamaa scored midway through the first overtime period to give the Canadians a 3-2 victory over the Thunderbirds at Chelmsford Arena.
The Thunderbirds jumped out to a 2-0 lead through 40 minutes thanks to goals by Tanner Mayne and Noah Solinger in the second period.
Liinamaa and Ryan O’Bonsawin scored for the Canadians in the third period to force the extra frame.
Thunderbirds goaltender Eric Schuch made 38 saves for the Thunderbirds, which included 19 in a third period that saw the Thunderbirds outshot 21-2.
At the other end, Brayden Lachance stopped 43 shots. The 20-year-old made 25 saves in the second period alone.
Rookie forward Camaryn Baber missed game two after he was injured in the opening seconds of game one on Friday night.
Off the opening faceoff, Baber was hit hard by Rayside forward James White and immediately left the game. No penalty was called on the play, but White was suspended indefinitely by the league pending a hearing.
Baber was playing in his fourth game since returning to the Thunderbirds lineup after an injury suffered on March 6 when he was hit hard by Rayside-Balfour forward Evan Krassey. Krassey was suspended 10 games for the hit and is scheduled to return for game five of the series.
In Friday’s series-opener, Schuch made 32 saves as the Thunderbirds shut out the Canadians 2-0. Lucas Theriault and Bradon Caruso scored in the victory. Nick Smith had two assists for the Thunderbirds.
Lachance made 30 saves for the Canadians.
The Thunderbirds entered the series on the heels of a game seven win over the Soo Eagles while the Canadians beat the Blind River Beavers in six games to advance.
The Thunderbirds and Canadians split their eight regular season meetings with seven of the games decided by two goals or less.
Rayside finished in top spot in the West Division, just three points ahead of the Thunderbirds.
The series now shifts to the John Rhodes Community Centre for games three and four on Wednesday and Thursday nights. Puck drop for both games is set for 7:30 p.m.
In the East Division final, the Cochrane Crunch hold a 2-0 series lead over the Timmins Rock after a 3-1 victory on home ice on Saturday night.
Connor Lovie had a goal and an assist for the Crunch.
On Friday, the Crunch opened the series with a 6-2 win led in part by a two-goal performance from Eli Hernandez. Austin Whelan assisted on three goals for the Crunch.
The NOJHL champion will move on to the Dudley Hewitt Cup, which opens on May 1 in Dryden, Ont.