The Northern Michigan Black Bears have pushed the Soo Thunderbirds to the brink of elimination in the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League playoffs.
Kyle Jacobson's goal early in the third period broke a 3-3 tie and lifted the Black Bears to a 4-3 win on Saturday night in St. Ignace to take a commanding 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven western division final.
Game four will go on Monday night at the John Rhodes Community Centre beginning at 7:30 p.m.
For the third straight game, the Black Bears opened up at least a two goal lead before the Thunderbirds could find the score sheet. Jordan Bowman scored before Russell Law connected on the power play to give the Black Bears a 2-0 lead after one period.
In the second period, the Thunderbirds regrouped and grabbed a 3-2 lead when Matt Caria, Kyle Jones and Tyler Lannigan tallied in a span of 4:31.
Jacobson scored his first goal of the night on the power play late in the period to tie the game and set up his game winner 2:59 into the third.
Caria added an assist in the game while goaltender Michael Maulucci stopped 29 of 33 shots for the Thunderbirds. Michael Bell took the win in net for Northern Michigan by stopping 26 of 29 shots.
*** GAME PHOTOS:
To view 12 pictures from game two action on Friday night, including the league awards presentations, taken by Thunderbirds photographer Jim Egan, click here.
*** NOJHL PLAYOFFS:
SEMI-FINALS:
WESTERN DIVISION:
1. NORTHERN MICHIGAN vs. 3. SOO THUNDERBIRDS
(Northern Michigan leads series 3-0)
Game 1 - Tue. Mar. 29 - Northern Michigan 3 Soo 0 Game 2 - Fri. Apr. 1 - Northern Michigan 4 Soo 2 Game 3 - Sat. Apr. 2 - Northern Michigan 4 Soo 3 Game 4 - Mon. Apr. 4 - Northern Michigan vs. Soo *Game 5 - Wed. Apr. 6 - Soo vs. Northern Michigan *Game 6 - Fri. Apr. 8 - Northern Michigan vs. Soo *Game 7 - Sat. Apr. 9 - Soo vs. Northern Michigan
(* if necessary)
EASTERN DIVISION:
1. NORTH BAY vs. 2. ABITIBI
(North Bay leads series 2-1)
Game 1 - Sun. Mar. 27 - North Bay 4 Abitibi 1 Game 2 - Tue. Mar. 29 - Abitibi 2 North Bay 1 (OT) Game 3 - Fri. Apr. 1 - North Bay 6 Abitibi 4 Game 4 - Sun. Apr. 3 - North Bay vs. Abitibi Game 5 - Tue. Apr. 5 - Abitibi vs. North Bay *Game 6 - Fri. Apr. 8 - North Bay vs. Abitibi *Game 7 - Mon. Apr. 11 - Abitibi vs. North Bay
QUARTERFINALS:
WESTERN DIVISION:
2. BLIND RIVER vs. 3. SOO THUNDERBIRDS
(Soo wins series 4-1)
Game 1 - Thur. Mar. 17 - Soo 4 Blind River 2 Game 2 - Sat. Mar. 19 - Soo 6 Blind River 5 (OT) Game 3 - Mon. Mar. 21 - Blind River 4 Soo 2 Game 4 - Wed. Mar. 23 - Soo 7 Blind River 1 Game 5 - Thur. Mar. 24 - Soo 8 Blind River 3
1. NORTHERN MICHIGAN vs. 4. MANITOULIN
(Northern Michigan wins series 4-0)
Game 1 - Tue. Mar. 15 - Northern Michigan 10 Manitoulin 2 Game 2 - Wed. Mar. 16 - Northern Michigan 12 Manitoulin 2 Game 3 - Fri. Mar. 18 - Northern Michigan 13 Manitoulin 1 Game 4 - Sat. Mar. 19 - Northern Michigan 6 Manitoulin 0
EASTERN DIVISION:
1. NORTH BAY vs. 4. SUDBURY
(North Bay wins series 4-1)
Game 1 - Tue. Mar. 15 - North Bay 7 Sudbury 3 Game 2 - Wed. Mar. 16 - North Bay 4 Sudbury 1 Game 3 - Fri. Mar. 18 - Sudbury 5 North Bay 4 (OT) Game 4 - Sun. Mar. 20 - North Bay 9 Sudbury 1 Game 5 - Tue. Mar. 22 - North Bay 2 Sudbury 1 (OT)
2. ABITIBI vs. 3. RAYSIDE BALFOUR
(Abitibi wins series 4-0)
Game 1 - Mon. Mar. 14 - Abitibi 3 Rayside Balfour 2 Game 2 - Thur. Mar. 17 - Abitibi 6 Rayside Balfour 5 (OT) Game 3 - Sat. Mar. 19 - Abitibi 3 Rayside Balfour 0 Game 4 - Thu. Mar. 24 - Abitibi 6 Rayside Balfour 3
***