The Soo Thunderbirds guaranteed a spirited effort on Wednesday night and definitely made good on their promise.
After a lacklustre performance on Monday, the Thunderbirds took control of the game in the middle of the second period and scored six unanswered goals in a 7-1 victory over the Blind River Beavers in front of over 500 fans at the John Rhodes Community Centre.
The victory gives the Thunderbirds a commanding 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League western division semi-final.
Game five is scheduled for Thursday night at the Blind River Community Centre beginning at 7:30 p.m.
Matt Caria, the game's first star, turned what was an evenly played match in favour of the Thunderbirds at the 11:51 mark of the second period.
With the Thunderbirds leading 2-1 and short handed, Caria caused a turnover at the Blind River blueline and led a three-on-one rush into the Beavers' zone. Caria fed Kyle Jones a pass and skated to the net to collect the rebound and beat Beavers goaltender Brock Lees.
The Thunderbirds then poured on the pressure in the third period as Jacob Lalonde, who had another strong performance, Mark Thorburn, Caria on the power play and Drew Jarrett scored.
Adam Kauppi and Kyle Rodgers scored for the Thunderbirds in the first period while Jason Wiley scored Blind River's lone goal on the power play.
Matt Dias recorded a pair of assists for the Thunderbirds while Kauppi, Jarrett and Lalonde added one each.
Michael Maulucci had a strong performance in goal for the Thunderbirds and stopped 30 of 31 shots for the win. The Thunderbirds fired 28 shots at Blind River.
If necessary, a sixth game would be played at the Rhodes on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and a seventh on Monday in Blind River.
The series winner will advance to meet the Northern Michigan Black Bears, who disposed the Manitoulin Wild in four straight games, in the western division final.
*** NORTH BAY ADVANCES:
The North Bay Skyhawks have advanced to the eastern division championship after eliminating the Sudbury Northern Wolves in five games.
On Tuesday, the Skyhawks, who now await the winner of the Abitibi and Rayside Balfour series, edged the Wolves 2-1 in overtime to claim the series 4-1.
For further details from the game, click here.
*** NOJHL PLAYOFFS:
QUARTERFINALS:
WESTERN DIVISION:
2. BLIND RIVER vs. 3. SOO THUNDERBIRDS
(Soo leads series 3-1)
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 vs. Blind River * Game 6 - Sat. Mar. 26 - Blind River vs. Soo * Game 7 - Mon. Mar. 28 - Soo vs. Blind River
(* if necessary)
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 leads series 3-0)
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 vs. Rayside Balfour * Game 5 - Sat. Mar. 26 - Rayside Balfour vs. Abitibi * Game 6 - Sun. Mar. 27 - Abitibi vs. Rayside Balfour * Game 7 - Mon. Mar. 28 - Rayside Balfour vs. Abitibi
***
(All photos courtesy of Jim Egan.)
FURTHER DETAILS WILL BE ADDED.