Still alive! T-Birds win another in double OT

The Soo Thunderbirds will continue to fight for their playoff lives.

For the second consecutive game, the Soo Thunderbirds defeated the Northern Michigan Black Bears in double overtime to climb back into the best-of-seven Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League western division final.

Matt Caria's goal 11 minutes into the second overtime period lifted the Thunderbirds to a 4-3 win in game five on Wednesday night in St. Ignace and closed the Black Bears lead in the series to 3-2.

Game six is scheduled for Friday night at the John Rhodes Community Centre at 7:30 p.m. with game seven, if necessary, back in St. Ignace at the Little Bear Arena on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

The Thunderbirds also sent the game into overtime in dramatic fashion as Chris Towell came back to haunt his former club with a pair of third period goals including the tying goal with 1:25 remaining in regulation time.

Towell scored his first of the night 4:02 into the period as the Thunderbirds entered the final frame down 3-1.

Steve Kruszewski gave the Black Bears an early 1-0 lead before Matt Dias answered with 24 seconds left in the first period to tie the score. In the second period, the Black Bears jumped ahead as Jordan Boman and Colin Sarfeh scored 1:13 apart.

Michael Maulucci, who notched an assist on the game winner, took the win in goal by stopping 53 of 56 shots while Northern Michigan counterpart Tony Stoehr stopped 33 of 37 shots.

Dias added a pair of assists for a three point night while Ryan Maunu set up two and Caria one.

On Monday, the Thunderbirds recorded their first victory of the series after dropping the first three games with a 5-4 win at the Rhodes. Drew Jarrett scored the game winner 12 seconds into the second overtime.

*** NOJHL PLAYOFFS:

SEMI-FINALS:

WESTERN DIVISION:

1. NORTHERN MICHIGAN vs. 3. SOO THUNDERBIRDS

(Northern Michigan leads series 3-2)

Game 1 - Tue. Mar. 29 - Northern Michigan 3 Soo 0 Game 2 - Fri. Apr. 1 - Northern Michigan 4 Soo 2 Game 3 - Sat. Apr. 2 - Northern Michigan 4 Soo 3 Game 4 - Mon. Apr. 4 - Soo 5 Northern Michigan 4 (2OT) Game 5 - Wed. Apr. 6 - Soo 4 Northern Michigan 3 (2OT) Game 6 - Fri. Apr. 8 - Northern Michigan vs. Soo *Game 7 - Sat. Apr. 9 - Soo vs. Northern Michigan

(* if necessary)

EASTERN DIVISION:

1. NORTH BAY vs. 2. ABITIBI

(North Bay leads series 3-2)

Game 1 - Sun. Mar. 27 - North Bay 4 Abitibi 1 Game 2 - Tue. Mar. 29 - Abitibi 2 North Bay 1 (OT) Game 3 - Fri. Apr. 1 - North Bay 6 Abitibi 4 Game 4 - Sun. Apr. 3 - Abitibi 5 North Bay 4 (2OT) Game 5 - Tue. Apr. 5 - North Bay 4 Abitibi 1 Game 6 - Fri. Apr. 8 - North Bay vs. Abitibi *Game 7 - Mon. Apr. 11 - Abitibi vs. North Bay

QUARTERFINALS:

WESTERN DIVISION:

2. BLIND RIVER vs. 3. SOO THUNDERBIRDS

(Soo wins series 4-1)

Game 1 - Thur. Mar. 17 - Soo 4 Blind River 2 Game 2 - Sat. Mar. 19 - Soo 6 Blind River 5 (OT) Game 3 - Mon. Mar. 21 - Blind River 4 Soo 2 Game 4 - Wed. Mar. 23 - Soo 7 Blind River 1 Game 5 - Thur. Mar. 24 - Soo 8 Blind River 3

1. NORTHERN MICHIGAN vs. 4. MANITOULIN

(Northern Michigan wins series 4-0)

Game 1 - Tue. Mar. 15 - Northern Michigan 10 Manitoulin 2 Game 2 - Wed. Mar. 16 - Northern Michigan 12 Manitoulin 2 Game 3 - Fri. Mar. 18 - Northern Michigan 13 Manitoulin 1 Game 4 - Sat. Mar. 19 - Northern Michigan 6 Manitoulin 0

EASTERN DIVISION:

1. NORTH BAY vs. 4. SUDBURY

(North Bay wins series 4-1)

Game 1 - Tue. Mar. 15 - North Bay 7 Sudbury 3 Game 2 - Wed. Mar. 16 - North Bay 4 Sudbury 1 Game 3 - Fri. Mar. 18 - Sudbury 5 North Bay 4 (OT) Game 4 - Sun. Mar. 20 - North Bay 9 Sudbury 1 Game 5 - Tue. Mar. 22 - North Bay 2 Sudbury 1 (OT)

2. ABITIBI vs. 3. RAYSIDE BALFOUR

(Abitibi wins series 4-0)

Game 1 - Mon. Mar. 14 - Abitibi 3 Rayside Balfour 2 Game 2 - Thur. Mar. 17 - Abitibi 6 Rayside Balfour 5 (OT) Game 3 - Sat. Mar. 19 - Abitibi 3 Rayside Balfour 0 Game 4 - Thu. Mar. 24 - Abitibi 6 Rayside Balfour 3

***