Thunderbirds extend division lead with win

The lone game on the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League schedule on Thursday night saw the Soo Thunderbirds winning streak extended to six games.

The Thunderbirds beat the Espanola Express 2-0 at the Essar Centre to improve to 21-7-1-0 on the season.

Dougie Newhouse made 15 saves for the shutout for the Thunderbirds while Matthew Caruso had both goals for the home team.

Espanola goaltender Logan Sawka made 54 saves, which included 27 in the third period.

Espanola’s record falls to 6-20-0-1 as the team has lost nine of its past 10 games.

Thursday’s win came on the heels of a 5-3 win in Blind River over the Beavers on Wednesday night.

With 43 points, the Thunderbirds moved four points ahead of the Rayside Balfour Canadians in the NOJHL’s West Division with both teams having played 29 games. The Thunderbirds sit six points back of the league-leading Powassan Voodoos, who are amid a 17-game winning streak heading into weekend action.

With a Grand Slam of Curling event set to take over the Essar Centre next week, the Thunderbirds have a pair of road games on the schedule, facing the Blind River Beavers on Dec. 7 and the Elliot Lake Wildcats on Dec. 11. Next home action for the Thunderbirds is set for Dec. 13 against Blind River in a 7 p.m. start at the Essar Centre.