T-Birds stave off elimination with double OT win

The Soo Thunderbirds continue to cling to life in the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League playoffs.

Not willing to roll over and succumb to the Northern Michigan Black Bears, the Thunderbirds scored 12 seconds into the second overtime period to take a 5-4 win and avoid a sweep in the best-of-seven western division final.

The Black Bears lead the series 3-1 with game five scheduled for the Little Bear Arena in St. Ignace on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.

After nothing was solved in the first 10 minute overtime period, the Thunderbirds returned to the ice following an intermission and watched Drew Jarrett whack a puck past Black Bears goaltender Tony Stoehr off a Chris Towell feed from behind the net for the win.

"We have some guys in the room that don't want to play their last junior hockey game against Northern Michigan," said Thunderbirds head coach Toots Kovacs. "We got production from everybody and Jarrett had a big game and (Pat)Keating scored a big goal for us as well."

The Thunderbirds came out for game four with their best effort of the series and Matt Dias gave his club a 1-0 lead for the first time this series 7:44 into the game. Steve Kruszewski tied the game for Northern Michigan with 1:31 remaining in the period.

"It was nice to finally get that first goal but we couldn't hold on to it," said Kovacs. "When they went ahead in the third, the character of this team sure came through."

In the second period, the Thunderbirds looked to take a lead midway through the frame but Jacob Lalonde was turned aside by Stoehr on a breakaway.

Jarrett found the score sheet for his first of the game with 1:31 remaining in the period but the Black Bears replied 34 seconds later as Ryan Murtaugh beat Michael Maulucci to send the game into the intermission tied at 2-2.

Action picked up in the third period as the Black Bears grabbed their first lead of the game when Jarrad Lavender poked a puck that trickled behind Maulucci into the empty net at 3:21.

Dias knocked in a rebound for his second goal of the game at 4:54 before Pat Keating gave the Thunderbirds a 4-3 lead at 8:06. Keating stripped the Black Bears defense of the puck before skating in alone and beating Stoehr with a high shot.

Not to be outdone, the Black Bears rallied to send the game into overtime as Mike Herbert notched his ninth of the playoffs when his rising shot beat Maulucci with 2:40 remaining in regulation time.

"That was the worst game we played this series and their backs were against the wall and they came at us," said Northern Michigan head coach and Sault product Gerry Lortie.

"They were tougher in the corners than we were and that's what gave them the game. We are going to practise (Tuesday) and we haven't practised all week. We were a little clumsy in our own end but we will work on it and iron out a few things."

Matt Caria had another strong game for the Thunderbirds and picked up three assists while Murtaugh, Kruszewski and Herbert added a helper for the Black Bears.

"At the beginning of the series they were shadowing (Caria) and I was trying all these head games with Northern Michigan to try and get him away from his checker. But I talked to him about it and he thrives on it. I stopped worring about matching lines and just let them play," said Kovacs.

Northern Michigan outshot the Thunderbirds 44-41.

When asked if he used the Windsor Spitfires' comeback on the Soo Greyhounds from a 3-0 deficit as an example for his club, Kovacs responded by saying he used the Boston Red Sox comeback from a 3-0 deficit in last year's Major League Baseball playoffs.

"We're back in Northern Michigan on Wednesday night and this was a big boost for us. He have to continue to match their skating and intensity and come up big again."

*** GAME PHOTOS:

To view 12 pictures from game two action on Friday night, including the league awards presentations, taken by Thunderbirds photographer Jim Egan, click here.

*** NOJHL PLAYOFFS:

SEMI-FINALS:

WESTERN DIVISION:

1. NORTHERN MICHIGAN vs. 3. SOO THUNDERBIRDS

(Northern Michigan leads series 3-1)

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 vs. Northern Michigan *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

(Series tied 2-2)

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 (OT) Game 5 - Tue. Apr. 5 - Abitibi vs. North Bay 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

***

(Photos provided courtesy of Jim Egan.)