Power play critical as Thunderbirds blank Express

A trio of power play goals helped the Soo Thunderbirds to a 3-0 Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League win over the Espanola Express on Friday evening at the Espanola Regional Recreation complex.

Tyson Doucette paced the Thunderbirds offensively in the win with two goals and an assist.

After a scoreless opening period, Doucette got the Thunderbirds on the board at 5:43 of the second period when he took a cross-ice pass from Brock Santa Maria and beat Espanola goaltender Patrick Boivin short side.

The Thunderbirds extended the lead when Dharan Cap got his first goal of the season at 12:02.

Cap found himself alone in close and took a pass from Doucette before sliding a backhand past Boivin.

Doucette capped off the scoring at 12:08 of the third when he took a pass in the left faceoff circle from Santa Maria and beat Boivin high.

Nolan Chartrand picked up the shutout for the Thunderbirds, stopping all 17 Espanola shots he faced.

Boivin made 37 saves for the Express.

Originally scheduled to face the Express on Saturday night at the John Rhodes Community Centre in the back end of a home-and-home series, the Thunderbirds will now face the Soo (Mich.) Eagles instead, meeting the Michigan Sault club at Pullar Stadium.

The schedule change comes after the NOJHL announced on Wednesday that the Greater Sudbury Cubs had suspended team activities dues to a positive COVID-19 test within the team.

The Cubs had four games postponed due to the positive test, two of which were scheduled this week against the Eagles, including a game originally scheduled for Saturday night in the Michigan Sault.

The originally scheduled game for Saturday between the Thunderbirds and Express will be rescheduled, as will the four games involving the Cubs that were postponed.