Thunderbirds avoid elimination on road

The Soo Thunderbirds live to fight another day.

After dropping the opening three games of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League final, the Thunderbirds avoided elimination on Friday thanks to a 4-2 win over the Hearst Lumberjacks at Claude Larose Arena in Hearst.

After a scoreless opening period, rookie defenceman Andrew Gibson got the Thunderbirds on the board 15 seconds into period two when he beat Hearst goaltender Matteo Gennaro with a shot from the right point glove side to open the scoring.

Ryan Glazer tied the game for Hearst at 5:57 when defenceman Dylan Ford sent the puck to the net from the left point and Glazer stopped in before stepping out from the side of the goal and sliding a backhand past Thunderbirds netminder Noah Metivier.

Just 1:17 later, the Thunderbirds took the lead for good when defenceman Mason Chitaroni beat Gennaro with a point shot through traffic high glove side on the power play to make it 2-1.

Brock Santa Maria extended the lead 1:25 into the third period when he skated through the right faceoff circle and deflected a shot from the right point by Kaden Dundas past Gennaro.

With 3:23 to go in the third Dharan Cap made it 4-1 for the visitors when he took a pass in the slot from Michael Chaffay in the left faceoff circle and slid a backhand past Gennaro,

Ford capped off the scoring for the Lumberjacks in the final seconds of regulation when he took a pass off a faceoff win by Brayden Palfi and beat Metivier stick side from the high slot o the power play.

Dundas had three assists fore the Thunderbirds in the win while Chaffay and Colby Arbour added a pair of assists each.

Metivier made 34 saves for the Thunderbirds while Gennaro stopped 16 shots for Hearst.

The Lumberjacks lead the series 3-1 heading into game five on Sunday night in Sault Ste. Marie. Puck drop at the John Rhodes Community Centre is set for 7 p.m.

The winner of the series will represent the NOJHL at the Centennial Cup in Estevan, Sask. later this month.