T-Birds corner Black Bears with overtime win

For the second time this series, the Soo Thunderbirds have used overtime to secure a playoff victory over the Northern Michigan Black Bears.

Much like the first, the Thunderbirds secured the overtime win on home ice.

Kelly Thompson proved to be the hero on Thursday night as the Thunderbirds forward scored at 7:43 of overtime to give the Soo a 4-3 win at the John Rhodes Community Centre on Thursday night.

The win gives the Thunderbirds a commanding 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League Western Division final.

Aaron Anderson sent the game into overtime for the Thunderbirds with a goal with 2:25 remaining in regulation time to tie the score at 3-3.

After Jordan Bowman gave Northern Michigan a 1-0 first period lead, Bryan Pearse scored at 6:32 to tie the game at 1-1. Ben Aring scored at 13:16 of the frame to give the Black Bears a 2-1 lead.

In the third period, D.J. Jelitto scored for the Soo to tie the game at 2-2 on the power play at 3:46. Northern Michigan scored just 1:49 later to regain the lead and setup the Thunderbirds' late game heroics.

Casey Mapes recorded the win in net, turning aside 30 of 33 Northern Michigan shots. The Thunderbirds fired 57 shots on Stoehr.

Game four is slated for Saturday night in St. Ignace, Michigan at 7:30 p.m.

In the NOJHL Eastern Division final, the Sudbury Northern Wolves shocked the North Bay Skyhawks 4-3 in the series opener on Wednesday.

The Wolves scored three unanswered goals in the third period culminating with Tyler Mackenzie's game winner with 28 seconds remaining.

Game two is scheduled for Sunday afternoon in Sudbury.

PHOTO: Thunderbirds' Kelly Thomson celebrates his overtime winner as Aaron Anderson (22) battles in front of goaltender Tony Stoehr. (photos courtesy of Jim Egan)