Taking advantage of a slow start along with a pair of power play goals helped the Soo Thunderbirds extend their winning streak to five games on Sunday afternoon.
The Thunderbirds picked up a 5-1 Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League victory over the Soo (Mich.) Eagles on Sunday in a game that saw the home team take a 3-0 lead through one period and use a pair of power play goals to seal the win.
“We moved the puck well and we were skating well,” said Thunderbirds Coach John Parco.
“When we’re skating and moving the puck like that, it’s pretty to watch,” Parco also said.
The Thunderbirds opened the scoring 91 seconds into the contest when Nick Smith beat Eagles netminder Shane Brancato and the tough start continued for the Eagles from there as Camden Findlay and Lucas Theriault added goals for the home team in the opening 20 minutes.
“You can’t give up a goal in the first two minutes of the game, against (the Thunderbirds) especially, and expect to win games,” said Eagles Coach Doug Laprade. “I just don’t think we were prepared right out of the game but as the game went on, we were much better.”
After Charley Hanewall scored for the Eagles just over five minutes into the second period to make it 3-1, Jake Lamberty would take a major penalty for checking to the head and the Thunderbirds would capitalize on the man advantage.
Gage Stephney and Ryan Lawrence would score for the Thunderbirds on the power play to make it 5-1.
“Anytime you can get a couple of goals on the power play, it’s definitely going to make a difference on the game,” Parco said.
“We had momentum too at that point,” Laprade said, also saying he felt the Thunderbirds two goals on the power play at that point were a difference in the game.
With the Thunderbirds already playing with a short bench due to suspensions to Tyler Malpass and Matt Bazarin, the Thunderbirds lost the services of Brendan Miller in the second period following the hit by Lamberty.
Miller did not return to action.
Thunderbirds goaltender Colin Ahern made 31 saves while Brancato made 27 saves for the Eagles.
The win gives the Thunderbirds a 19-5-0-0 record and moves the NOJHL’s West Division leaders into top spot in the overall standings, one point ahead of the East Division-leading Kirkland Lake Gold Miners.
The Eagles fall to 11-16-0-0.
The Thunderbirds return to action on Friday night at home as the team hosts the Blind River Beavers in a 7 p.m. puck drop at the John Rhodes Community Centre.