T-Birds knock off Wild

The Soo Thunderbirds continued their solid play with another road win on the Manitoulin.

Backed by a four goal outburst in the second period, the Thunderbirds rolled past the Manitoulin Wild 6-4 in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League action on Friday night.

The Wild opened a 2-0 lead in the first period on a pair of quick goals by Carlo Metatawabin and Brent Henley midway through the frame.

Kyle Jones opened the scoring for the Thunderbirds with a power play goal late in the period.

Matt Dias tied the score 1:07 into the second period before Jason Gauthier restored the Wild lead at 2:47. Matt Caria's unassisted effort at 5:07 tied the score at 3-3.

Denis French gave the Wild at 4-3 lead at the 8:01 mark before the Thunderbirds took control of the game with three unanswered goals.

Ryan Maunu tied the game at 4-4 at 16:56 before Dias netted the game winner with his second goal of the game just 15 seconds later. Caria concluded the scoring with his second of the night midway through the third period on the power play.

Maunu added two assists for the locals while Dias and Caria added one each.

Michael Maulucci recorded the win in goal kicking out 38 of 42 shots. The Thunderbirds fired 37 shots at Wild goaltender Kyle May.

The victory improves the Thunderbirds record to 10-6-1-1 for 22 points and moves the club to within two points of the Wild for first place in the western division. Blind River sits two points back of the Soo in third.

The Soo continues their road trip on Saturday against the Abitibi Eskimos at 7:30 p.m. before meeting the North Bay Skyhawks on Sunday at 2 p.m.

The Thunderbirds return home to face the Northern Michigan Black Bears on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at the John Rhodes Community Centre.