Eagles even series with Thunderbirds

After needing overtime to decide the series opener on Saturday night, it was another tight playoff contest between the Soo Thunderbirds and Soo (Mich.) Eagles on Monday night in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League action.

A third period goal by Kobe Keller on the power play was the difference as the Eagles beat the Thunderbirds 3-2 at the John Rhodes Community Centre locally. 

The win evens the best-of-7 at one game apiece after the Thunderbirds won the opener on Saturday.

“Our effort was good as usual,” said Thunderbirds Assistant Coach Marc Disano. “We had a few mistakes to start the game, which cost us the first goal. Other than that, we had some really good chances where we didn’t capitalize, and their goalie made some big stops.”

Disano shared the Thunderbirds coaching duties with Toots Kovacs as Head Coach John Parco served the second game of a three-game suspension. Parco will be back behind the bench for game four.

“Our mindset was that we had to win one of these games here,” said Eagles Assistant Coach Bruno Bragagnolo, who shard the coaching duties with fellow assistant Nick Perri in the absence of Head Coach Jim Capy. “We bounced back and played well, especially considering the penalties we took. We did a really good job killing penalties.”

The Thunderbirds has an opportunity late in the second period to take the lead when Matt Capisciolto took a major penalty for checking from behind after a hit on Steven Bellini.

The team couldn’t capitalize on the power play, part of which was nullified by a Thunderbirds penalty.

The Thunderbirds power play finished the night with a pair of power play goals in six opportunities.

“We’re moving the puck around well enough but we’re just not getting enough shots to the net,” Disano said of the power play. “We’re not getting enough traffic. We had some really good chances where their goalie made some big saves. That’s just the way playoff hockey is. It’s a bounce here and a bounce there.”

Bragagnolo credited goaltender Carter McPhail as a big part of the Eagles penalty kill.

“He was a big reason why we did a good job killing those penalties,” Bragagnolo said. “They move the puck really well and Carter played a hell of a game for us.”

McPhail made 39 saves for the Eagles.

Jacob Palmerio and Gianni Vitali had the other Eagles goals.

Noah Solinger and Nick Smith scored for the Thunderbirds while goaltender Brandon Gordon made 29 saves,

The series now shifts to Soo, Mich. for games three and four beginning on Wednesday night at Pillar Stadium. Game four is Friday night with game five set for the following night at the John Rhodes.