T-Birds need OT for series opening win (updated)

They needed some extra time to get the job done but the Soo Thunderbirds drew first blood on Sunday night in their West Division championship series against the Northern Michigan Black Bears.

The Thunderbirds took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series as they knocked off the Northern Michigan Black Bears 2-1 in overtime Sunday at Memorial Gardens.

The two teams, who tied four of their final five regular season meetings this season, locked in during the first period and despite some good scoring chances by both clubs went into the first intermission scoreless.

In the second period, it looked as though the two teams were going to keep the scoreless streak going despite picking up the offence and creating more chances than in the opening period.

The Thunderbirds became the first team to convert on their chances as Tom Vernelli got the puck behind the net and fed Aaron Anderson in the low slot. Anderson beat Northern Michigan goaltender Tony Stoehr to give the Thunderbirds a 1-0 lead at 16:28.

In the third period, the Black Bears pressed to tie the game up and did so at 3:51 when Ryan Behnke scored with Thunderbird defenceman Ryan MacKay in the penalty box.

The Thunderbirds thought they had re-taken the lead at 8:31 but had a goal waved off after the Northern Michigan goal had been knocked off before the puck entered the net.

Later in the period, Alex Butkus deflected a shot past Stoehr but the goal was also called back as Butkus had deflected the puck with a high stick.

With just over 30 seconds left in the third, Northern Michigan had what was likely the best opportunity of the game as Mike Herbert took a feed on a 2-on-1 and was subsequently robbed by Sault goaltender Casey Mapes, who slid cross-crease and gloved the Herbert shot.

The save Mapes made on Herbert gave the Thunderbirds an opportunity they cashed in on.

With the game in overtime, Vernelli picked up a loose puck just inside the Northern Michigan blueline and wired a shot past Stoehr low stick side just 33 second into the extra frame to give the Thunderbirds the win.

Thunderbirds head coach Jim Capy was pleased with the win although he felt that some plays could have come back to haunt his club.

"We had a couple breaks that could have burned us," Capy said. "I thought we worked hard most of the night. We played hard but we didn't play smart.

"The hard thing is you're playing a lot of games in a little amount of time. I thought both goalies were the story of the game. We did a good job shutting down (Steve) Kruszewski and (Chris) Kraft."

Capy added that he felt his team has yet to put together their best effort of the playoffs.

"Hopefully the best is yet to come," Capy said. "I don't think we've played our best in the playoffs yet.

"We certainly didn't want to lose game one in our rink. (Northern Michigan) played a pretty good road game tonight. Hopefully we could go in there (to Northern Michigan) Tuesday night and take some heart out of them."

Capy credited his goaltending following the game. Mapes stopped 30 shots in the Sault goal in game one.

"For the last month our goaltending has been one of the best in the league," Capy credited. "They give us the option of alternating. We're pretty satisfied with our goaltending."

Capy added that he expected to go with Jarrett Michaels in goal on Tuesday night in St. Ignace.

Game two of the series is set for Tuesday night in St. Ignace at 7:30 p.m. at the Little Bear Arena. Game three of the series will be back in Sault Ste. Marie on Thursday night at 7 p.m. at the John Rhodes Community Centre.

Elsewhere in the NOJHL, the Sudbury Northern Wolves advanced into the Eastern Division championship after beating the Abitibi Eskimos 4-2 on Saturday to capture the series 4-2.

The Wolves will now meet the North Bay Skyhawks, who swept the Rayside Balfour Sabrecats in their semi-final, for the division crown.

PHOTO: Thunderbirds forward Tom Vernelli looks to bat a flying puck past Northern Michigan goaltender Tony Stoehr. (photos courtesy of Jim Egan)