T-Birds take control despite sluggish performance (9 photos)

After a dominating performance one night earlier, the Soo Thunderbirds survived a lacklustre performance to open up a 2-0 series lead over the Manitoulin Wild in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League quarterfinal playoff action.

Thanks to a pair of goals by winger Chris Towell, the Thunderbirds defeated the Wild 6-4 at the John Rhodes Community Centre on Wednesday. The win came one night after the Thunderbirds dominated the Wild in defeating them 8-0.

The Thunderbirds opened the scoring midway through the first period when Towell converted for his third goal of the series. The Wild then scored a pair of goals to take a 2-1 lead as Jeff Mussen scored just 1:35 after Towell and Anthony Fey scored late in the period to give the Wild the lead.

After Adam Kauppi got the Thunderbirds back on even terms 2:50 into the second period, Carlo Metatawabin restored the lead for the Wild at 6:36.

That's when the Thunderbirds took temporary control of the game. Ben Davey pulled the Thunderbirds back to even terms again at 12:35 when he fired a point shot through a crowd and past Manitoulin goaltender Matt Thompson. Towell then gave the Thunderbirds their second lead of the night at 16:58 and Mark Thorburn gave the locals a two-goal cushion at 18:24 when he re-directed a shot by Adam Kauppi.

Josh Rathbone pulled the Wild to within one goal 1:10 into the third period but a goal by Grant McGee at 8:15 sealed the victory for the Thunderbirds, giving them some control heading into game three in Manitoulin.

"Tonight's game was worth it if (the players) learned a lesson," said Thunderbirds coach Toots Kovacs, "that just because you win one game, it doesn't mean you're going to win the next one. The only good thing that come out of this game, I'm going to be able to tell on Friday, whether they learned or not.

"Credit to Manitoulin," Kovacs added. "They get beaten up one day and come back fighting for their lives. That's a dangerous hockey team. Just because they ended up in last place, it doesn't mean they're going to roll over and play dead. They took it to us. They out-hit us, they out-worked us, and they out-skated us. If my guys use this game as a lesson then it was worth it."

Kovacs was pleased with the play of Chris Towell who, with a pair of goals, bumped up his playoff total to four through two games.

"He's scored a lot of big goals for us this year," Kovacs said of the veteran forward. "Playing with Mike (McMillan) and Ryan (Maunu), obviously he's going to get them, but he's so effective down low when he drags the puck along the boards and does those kind of things. I'd like to see more of that out of him."

The series now shifts to Manitoulin for games three and four which are set for Friday and Saturday nights. Game five, if necessary, will be on Monday night in Sault Ste. Marie.

*** NORTH BAY vs. ABITIBI:

The North Bay Skyhawks came back from a 4-2 deficit and pulled off a 6-5 overtime victory over the Abitibi Eskimos. But the Skyhawks had to play more than six periods to decide it.

Dennis French, who also had three assists on the night, finished off the marathon with a goal in the first minute of the fourth overtime much to the dismay of the disappointed crowd at the Jus Jordan arena in Iroquois Falls.

Nick Kulas was the Skyhawks offensive catalyst on this night scoring two goals and adding two assists. Joey Imbeau also had a pair of goals for the Skyhawks in the first three periods of action while Austin Rugal added the other goal in regulation.

Matt Brunet, Brad Norkum, David Proulx, Jacie Gagne, and Cody Fox replied for the Eskimos.

The win gives the Skyhawks an important 2-0 series lead in the best-of-seven NOJHL quarterfinals.

Both teams don't get much rest as they return to action for game three in North Bay on Friday night.

*** NOJHL QUARTERFINALS:

2. SOO THUNDERBIRDS vs. 7. MANITOULIN

(Soo leads series 2-0)

Game 1 - Tues. Mar. 14 - Soo 8 Manitoulin 0 Game 2 - Wed. Mar. 15 - Soo 6 Manitoulin 4 Game 3 - Fri. Mar. 17 - Soo vs. Manitoulin Game 4 - Sat. Mar. 18 - Soo vs. Mantoulin * Game 5 - Mon. Mar. 20 - Manitoulin vs. Soo * Game 6 - Wed. Mar. 22 - Soo vs. Manitoulin * Game 7 - Thu. Mar. 23 - Manitoulin vs. Soo

3. NORTH BAY vs. 6. ABITIBI

(North Bay leads series 2-0)

Game 1 - Tues. Mar. 14 - North Bay 3 Abitibi 1 Game 2 - Wed. Mar. 15 - North Bay 6 Abitibi 5 (4OT) Game 3 - Fri. Mar. 17 - Abitibi vs. North Bay Game 4 - Sat. Mar. 18 - North Bay vs. Abitibi * Game 5 - Tues. Mar. 21 - Abitbi vs. North Bay * Game 6 - Thu. Mar. 23 - North Bay vs. Abitibi * Game 7 - Fri. Mar. 24 - Abitibi vs. North Bay

4. NORTHERN MICHIGAN vs. 5. BLIND RIVER

(Northern Michigan leads series 1-0)

Game 1 - Tues. Mar. 14 - Northern Michigan 2 Blind River 1 Game 2 - Thu. Mar. 16 - Northern Michigan vs. Blind River Game 3 - Sat. Mar. 18 - Blind River vs. Northern Michigan Game 4 - Sun. Mar. 19 - Northern Michigan vs. Blind River * Game 5 - Tue. Mar. 21 - Blind River vs. Northern Michigan * Game 6 - Thu. Mar. 23 - Northern Michigan vs. Blind River * Game 7 - Fri. Mar. 24 - Blind River vs. Northern Michigan

1. SUDBURY - bye

(* = if necessary)

***

(With files from Chris Dawson of www.baytoday.ca)

(All photos courtesy of Jim Egan. To see four more pictures from the T-Birds' regular season finale against Northern Michigan, click here.)