Thunderbirds erase five-goal deficit, fall in shootout

It was a comeback that fell just short, but in the end, it was enough to salvage a single point for the Soo Thunderbirds on Sunday afternoon.

A five-goal third period forced overtime before the Thunderbirds eventually dropped a 7-6 shootout decision against the Soo (Mich.) Eagles in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League action at the John Rhodes Community Centre.

Shootout goals by Chase Tallaire and Seth Ferguson were the difference for the Eagles in the win.

Things looked bleak for the Thunderbirds through 40 minutes.

After falling behind 2-0 in the opening period on goals by Alan Evtimov and Brian Fiddes of the Eagles, Thunderbirds defenceman Andrew Gibson scored a power play goal 2:47 into the second period to cut the Eagles lead to one goal.

The Eagles proceeded to score four times in the frame, including three goals 2:12 apart midway through the period, to take a 6-1 lead into the third.

Marc LaFrance made it 3-1 Eagles with a power play goal at 11:09 as he beat Sault netminder Noah Metivier on a redirection in close.

Jacob Swiatek then scored a pair of goals 44 seconds apart to extend the lead before Fiddes scored his second of the night to make it 6-1 at 17:38 of the period.

Gibson got the ball rolling offensively for the Thunderbirds in the third when he scored a power play goal 4:45 into the frame.

The rookie blueliner jumped on a rebound in the left faceoff circle after Eagles goaltender Gabe Rosek got out of position making an initial save on the play.

Midway through the third, Zane Burleigh cut the Eagles lead to 6-3 when he beat Rosek from the left circle glove side before Sam Lake made it 6-4 with 3:52 to go in regulation time.

The Thunderbirds tied the game with a pair of goals in the final minute of regulation.

Cooper Foster scored his fifth goal of the season with 57.5 seconds to go in regulation to make it a one-goal game before Kaden Dundas tied the game with 1.4 seconds to go when he beat Rosek on a rebound.

Gibson finished the day with two goals and an assist while Kelsey Ouellet also had a three-point game with three assists for the Thunderbirds.

Metivier stopped 17 shots in the game.

Swiatek and Fiddes had two goals and two assists each for the Eagles.

Rosek stopped 35 shots.

Sunday’s game was the third in as many days for the Thunderbirds.

The team picked up a 4-1 win over the Elliot Lake Red Wings on home ice on Friday night on the strength of a three-point night from forward Youssef Chaouachi, who had two goals and an assist in the win.

Red Wings goaltender Cameron Smith made 38 saves for Elliot Lake.

On Saturday night, Gibson scored on the power play with 3.1 seconds to go in overtime as the Thunderbirds beat the Blind Rive Beavers 5-4 in overtime in Blind River.

Gibson and Michael Beltrano had a goal and an assist each for the Thunderbirds while Jesse Dupuis scored a pair of goals for Blind River.

Beavers goaltender Gavin Disano, a Sault native, made 56 saves for Blind River in the game, including eight in the overtime frame

Following weekend action, the Thunderbirds sit in top spot in the NOJHL’s West Division with a record of 12-2-1-2 (win-loss-overtime loss-shootout loss) and 27 points.

The team returns to action on Friday night at home against Blind River in the opening game of another three-in-three weekend. Puck drop at the John Rhodes Community Centre is set for 7: 30 p.m.

The weekend will also see the Thunderbirds host the French River Rapids on Saturday night, also at 7:30 p.m. before hitting the road to face the Red Wings in Elliot Lake on Sunday afternoon.