Black Bears maul Thunderbirds (4 photos added)

The comments heard around the John Rhodes Community Centre on Wednesday night said it all -- the Soo Thunderbirds had a tough night as they dropped a 4-1 decision at the hands of their Michigan Sault rivals, the Northern Michigan Black Bears.

The Black Bears won the game on the strength of three power play goals in the first period.

The Thunderbirds got off to a good start as they opened the scoring at 3:31 when Ryan Maunu converted a chance, beating Black Bears netminder Tony Stoehr.

From then on, it was all Black Bears. Michael Herbert got the Black Bears on the board with their first power play goal of the period at 4:24.

Steve Kruzewski, who was named the game's second star, then scored a pair of goals on the man advantage, the first coming at 14:54, then again at 18:01. Herbert, the game's first star, assisted on both goals.

The Black Bears opened things up in the second period, outshooting the Thunderbirds 16-6 in the frame. If not for some fine saves by Thunderbirds goaltender Michael Maulucci, the Black Bears likely would have blown the game open. Instead, the Black Bear could only beat Maulucci once, a Michael Caprio goal at 6:17.

The Thunderbirds had a prime opportunity to cut into the lead midway through the third period when they were handed a two-man advantage for 1:49, but the locals could not answer the call, something that concerned coach Toots Kovacs following the game.

"Our special teams units were absolutely brutal," Kovacs said. "Our power play couldn't get on track, our penalty kill couldn't get on track. Maybe there's a power play flu that's going around the Sault right now that we caught. We'll work through it and we'll get over it.

"We were outworked, outplayed in every aspect of the game," Kovacs added. "It just wasn't a good game all around."

Kovacs did like the fact that they have another important divisional game coming up this weekend against Blind River, something that will help judge the character of the team.

"After playing a game like this and having a game in Blind River on Saturday, it'll show some character," Kovacs said. "Either they've got it, or they don't have it. Either they'll come to play and play up to their capabilities or they won't. They know that it's a big one on Saturday night."

With the loss, the Thunderbirds record drops to 7-4 while the Black Bears improve to 5-5 on the season.

After the game in Blind River on Saturday, the Thunderbirds close out October with three more road games in North Bay on Oct. 28, Abitibi on Oct. 29, and Manitoulin on Oct. 30. Their next home game is set for Nov. 6 when they host the Manitoulin Islanders.

*** AROUND THE NOJHL:

In other NOJHL action on Wednesday night:

AT SUDBURY: The Abitibi Eskimos got a goal from Jacie Gagne with just 1:21 remaining in the third period as the Eskimos defeated the Northern Wolves 2-1. Josh Maida scored the other Abitibi goal while NOJHL scoring leader Brian McGarry scored the lone Sudbury goal.

AT BLIND RIVER: Goaltender Billy Stone did what he has done all season long and stood on his head, stopping 47 Blind River shots as the Manitoulin Islanders defeated the Beavers 3-2. Dennis French and Jesse Peltier each had a goal and an assist for the Islanders while Corey Metatawabin added two assists.

(All photos courtesy of Jim Egan.)