Goaltending, three unanswered goals, lift Thunderbirds to win

It took a little more work, but a strong goaltending performance and three unanswered goals were the difference for the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League’s Soo Thunderbirds.

Bradon Caruso’s third goal of the season midway through the third period sparked a stretch of three unanswered goals in the final frame as the Thunderbirds beat the Cochrane Crunch 4-2 Sunday at the John Rhodes Community Centre.

Cochrane held a 2-1 lead through 40 minutes after a pair of second period goals by forward Austin Stauffer, giving the 20-year-old eight goals in 11 games this season. Stauffer’s second goal came just 14 seconds after Nick Smith tied the game at one for the Thunderbirds.

“We just didn’t match their intensity level (in the first two periods),” said Thunderbirds Coach John Parco. “They worked harder than we did for 40 minutes. When a team is hungry and they work harder, that’s the way that it goes.”

Smith finished the night with a goal and three assists while Noah Solinger added a goal and a pair of helpers. Kaidan McDonald had the other goal for the Thunderbirds.

Veteran netminder Brandon Gordon made 24 saves for the Thunderbirds, who improve to 8-3-1-0 and take over top spot in the NOJHL’s West Division with the victory.

“The only reason we won was because Gordo kept us in it in the first 40 minutes and then we were able to play our game,” Parco said.

Cochrane Coach Ryan Leonard called Caruso’s goal the difference in the game as the Crunch proceeded to take a penalty seconds after the goal and that power play led to McDonald scoring the game winner late in the man advantage

“We were really good right up until we gave up that second goal,” Leonard said. “It deflated the whole hockey club from there.”

“We had six shots to start the period right off the hop,” Leonard said, “and then when they got that fluke goal, it went south from there.”

Goaltender Shayne Battler made 31 saves for the Crunch, who fall to 5-6-0-0 with the loss.

Both teams return to action in the NOJHL showcase, which opens on Tuesday in Sudbury. The two-day event will see all 12 teams play a pair of games each at Sudbury’s Countryside Arena. The Thunderbirds open the event on Tuesday afternoon in a 3:30 p.m. puck drop against the Hearst Lumberjacks before facing Cochrane on day two at 1:45 p.m.