Facing one of the top teams in the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League standings, the Soo Thunderbirds came away with two important points on Sunday afternoon.
The Thunderbirds picked up a narrow 2-1 win over the Timmins Rock Sunday at the John Rhodes Community Centre.
After the teams skated through a scoreless opening period, Jacob Kovacs got the Thunderbirds on the board midway through the second.
Moments after the end of a Timmins penalty, Kovacs scored on a loose puck in close to give the Thunderbirds the lead.
Timmins would get on the board later in the frame as Stewart Parnell stepped into the left circle and beat Thunderbirds netminder Sam Evola.
The locals wasted little time retaking the lead as Kurtis Rogers made it 2-1 just 88 seconds later as he took a feed from Cooper Smyl and beat Rock goaltender Vance Meyer.
Timmins had an opportunity late in the third period after Thunderbirds defenceman Warner Young took a penalty with 3:25 to go. The Rock would pull Meyer for an extra attacker despite having a pair of chances go off the post with the goalie out.
Riley Robitaille from the left circle and Eric Moreau from the right circle hit the post less than 10 seconds apart in the final seconds of the power play and that was as close as the Rock would come.
Meyer made 41 saves for the Rock, including 30 in the final period, while Evola made 28 for the Thunderbirds.
The win improves the Thunderbirds record to 21-13-2-3 as the team continues to battle for positioning in the NOJHL’s West Division standings. With a 7-2-1-0 records in their last 10 games, the Thunderbirds sit in third in the division, two points ahead of the Soo (Mich.) Eagles.
The Thunderbirds return to action on Wednesday night at home against the Espanola Express. Puck drop at the John Rhodes Community Centre is set for 7 p.m.
Timmins drops to 27-6-1-1 with the loss.