Thunderbirds squeak past Wild (Photos added)

It wasn't the prettiest of wins but in the end, the Soo Thunderbirds found a way to end their four-game winless skid on Friday night against the Manitoulin Wild.

The Thunderbirds, who have been struggling of late, found a way to get through some undisciplined play throughout the night and post a 4-3 Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League victory over the Wild at the John Rhodes Community Centre.

The Thunderbirds got off to a quick start as Matt Dias broke in alone on Manitoulin goaltender Kyle May, but was turned aside. Dias had another chance to open the scoring just past the midway point of the period but this time, lost control of the puck as he attempted to deke May.

Matt Caria then proceeded to open the scoring as he centred a pass that deflected off a skate in front and past May at 14:52.

Just under four minutes later, with the Thunderbirds on the power play, defenceman Anthony Brune, a recent acquisition from the Blind River Beavers, scored on a point shot that was deflected in front of the net off a Manitoulin player's skate to send the game into the first intermission with the Thunderbirds up by two goals.

In the second frame, Jasen Bange cut the Soo lead to one with a tip-in off a back-door pass from Brent Henley at 2:07.

Then, at 6:56, Ryan Maunu scored a highlight reel goal as he beat May with a rising shot that beat the netminder just under the crossbar to restore the Thunderbirds two goal lead while shorthanded.

The Wild kept plugging away though and cut the lead to one again as Denis French beat Thunderbirds starter Mike Maulucci to send the game into the third with the Thunderbirds leading 3-2.

In the third, the Wild got the game back on even terms early as Mike Moote scored his first goal of the season to tie the game at 3-3.

Just minutes later, the Thunderbirds got a break as, with the locals shorthanded, a clearing pass that looked harmless hopped over the stick of one of the Wild defenceman and Billy Griffore broke in on May and beat the Wild goaltender to give the Thunderbirds a 4-3 lead that they would never relinquish.

The Wild, who entered the game as the NOJHL's top team with a 9-2-0 record through 12 games, had a three-game winning streak going and had won five of their last six games prior to Friday night's loss.

Thunderbirds head coach Toots Kovacs said that there were a couple things that pleased him in the win, although there were some problems as well.

"I'm definitely happy to get the two points," Kovacs said following the victory. "I'm really happy for Billy Griffore who gets the winner, for two reasons. He works hard every shift and his parents were here visiting and are taking in the games this weekend.

"I didn't think we played very well though," Kovacs added. "It's a matter of being disciplined. There's two types of discipline. One is not taking bad penalties and the other is missing assignments and not battling for loose pucks (which were problems against Manitoulin).

"I just think it was a matter of discipline. After the game (assistant coaches Pat Carricato, Dave Watson) and I addressed the team, we let the players address themselves and they weren't happy with tonight."

Kovacs also said that Dias, who had three breakaways on the night, but could not manage to convert them, is "snake-bitten" right now, but has the talent to be a quality player at this level and beyond.

"(Dias) is snake-bitten," Kovacs said of the Sudbury Wolves draft pick. "The only way to get out of that is to shoot the puck. He's the kind of player that can score 40 goals. He can definitely play at the next level."

Kovacs also commented on the play of his goaltender Maulucci, who made a number of big stops in the win and stopped 25 Wild shots in total.

"Maulucci always makes big stops when we need him," Kovacs commented. "The players on this hockey club owe him (considering) the number of big stops he's made for us."

With the win over the Wild now behind them, the Thunderbirds take their 6-5-1 record into a Saturday night tilt with the North Bay Skyhawks.

The Thunderbirds and Skyhawks will be meeting for the second time in under a month and it will also be the second of three regular season trips the Skyhawks make to Sault Ste. Marie. Game time at the Rhodes is 7:30.

(All photos courtesy of Jim Egan)