saultsports 
Photos: Bob Davies
SAULT STE. MARIE, Ont. – An impressive four-point performance by Greater Sudbury Cubs defenceman Spencer Horgan led his side to a 6-3 triumph versus the Soo Thunderbirds Tuesday afternoon in Game 3 of their Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League semifinal at John Rhodes Community Centre.
This sees the Cubs take a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven affair, heading in Game 4 Wednesday night back at John Rhodes. Start time is 7 p.m.
With Tuesday’s match-up happening a day later than expected, due to weather related issues, Greater Sudbury generated some early pressure that resulted in a marker before the first period was five minutes in.
On the play, Horgan collected a turnover in the Thunderbirds’ end and set-up Lucas Signoretti, who pumped a shot past Sault Ste. Marie starter Noah Metivier for his NOJHL-leading 10th tally and 21st point of the playoffs.
Coming back to tie it at 17:13, T-Birds’ defenceman Bryan Fenlon put an attempt from the right point to the net that was stopped by the pad of netminder Karsen Chartier, but James Legler was right there to knock in the rebound.
Countering quickly, the visitors took a 2-1 lead into the intermission thanks to some hard work by Cameron Shanks, who sent the puck in close where Lucas Antonioni snapped in his initial postseason goal.
Action in the second stanza saw Greater Sudbury go up 3-1 during a man advantage as Mason Walker tipped in a Horgan backhand effort just past the 14-minute mark.
Answering that moments later, the Soo banged in a couple of tallies to knot the affair at 3-3.
Their second of the afternoon came when a Fenlon head-man pass sent Deven Jones-McDonald driving down the left wing where he powered his way in on a delayed penalty and tucked his chance under Chartier.
The Thunderbirds then drew level at 15:12 as the Thunderbirds moved out of their own zone with speed in transition that resulted in Jones-McDonald chipping a play up to Legler, and saw him lift in his fifth of the postseason.
Regrouping once more, the Cubs took a 4-3 lead after 40 minutes as Horgan collected his third assist of the contest when he fed a hard-charging Nolan Newton, who outmuscled a back-checker and steered in his in-close opportunity.
Moving to the final frame, the guests extended their edge when Brock Chitaroni fired one through Metivier from a sharp angle with just over 12 minutes remaining for his first playoff goal.
Then putting the Soo on the brink of elimination, Greater Sudbury sealed the road victory with a long-range empty netter off the stick of Horgan in the late going to wrap up the result.
NOJHL semifinal
No. 1 Greater Sudbury Cubs vs. No. 6 Soo Thunderbirds
Cubs lead best-of-seven series 3-0
Game 1: Cubs 7 Thunderbirds 4
Game 2: Cubs 4 Thunderbirds 2
Game 3: Cubs 6 Thunderbirds 3
Game 4: Wednesday, April 9 @ Soo 7 p.m. (John Rhodes Community Centre)
Game 5*: Thursday, April 10 @ Sudbury 7 p.m. (Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex)
Game 6*: Sunday, April 13 @ Soo 7 p.m. (John Rhodes Community Centre)
Game 7*: Tuesday, April 15 @ Sudbury 7 p.m. (Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex)
*-if necessary
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