Thunderbirds inch closer to sealing playoff berth with win over Vikings

The goals came early and often for the Soo Thunderbirds on Tuesday night.

After grabbing a 1-0 lead just under five minutes in, the Thunderbirds cruised to a 9-2 win over the Elliot Lake Vikings Tuesday at the John Rhodes Community Centre.

The Thunderbirds scored four times in the opening period before adding a pair of power play goals in a three-goal middle stanza that broke the game open further.

Daniel Beaupre paced the home team with a goal and four assists in the victory.

Kelsey Ouellet chipped in offensively with three goals and an assist.

Jackson Truchan added a goal and two assists while Quinn Myles and Silas Crawford had a goal and an assist.

The game was the first for Truchan since Jan. 24 due to injury.

Kolby Fellinger and Adam Kukko also scored. 

Thunderbirds goaltender Troy Rossetto stopped 17 shots in the victory.

Braydon Garnhart stopped 42 shots for the Vikings.

Max Ciesielski and Gavin McLenaghan scored for Elliot Lake in the loss.

With the win, the Thunderbirds improve to 34-13-4-1 on the season and move six points ahead of Espanola for third in the NOJHL's West Division.

The Thunderbirds also have a pair of games in hand on the Paper Kings.

Elliot Lake falls to 5-43-1-4 with the loss.