Eagles soar to sweep of Thunderbirds

It was a disappointing end to the season for the Soo Thunderbirds.

A pair of goals in the third period were the difference as the Thunderbirds dropped a 4-2 decision to the Soo (Mich.) Eagles on Friday night at Pullar Stadium in the Michigan Sault. The loss means the Thunderbirds have been swept from the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League playoffs in four games.

Goals by Jacob Palmerio and Chris Murphy 1:23 apart early in the third period were the difference for the Eagles, who outshot the Thunderbirds 33-19 in the contest.

Palmerio and Murphy had a goal and an assist for the Eagles. Chris Lutz chipped in with a pair of goals. Eagles goaltender Kade Phipps stopped 17 shots.

Alec Allen and Wyatt Villalta scored for the Thunderbirds. Austin Kozluk and Keegan Stevenson each assisted on both Thunderbirds goals. Goaltender Dougie Newhouse made 29 saves for the Thunderbirds.

The Eagles entered the series on the heels of a first-round series win over the Elliot Lake Wildcats.

The Eagles will face the winner of the other NOJHL West Division playoff series between the Blind River Beavers and Rayside Balfour Canadians. That series is currently tied at two games apiece with game five set for Saturday night in Blind River.

In the East Division playoffs, the Timmins Rock lead the Cochrane Crunch 2-1 with game four scheduled for Saturday night in Timmins.

The Powassan Voodoos booked a ticket to the East Division final with a four-game sweep of the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners. The Voodoos held off a late charge by the Gold Miners in a game four victory on Thursday night.