saultsports Photos: Justin Cairns
SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. – Withstanding a solid goaltending performance from Zachary Burleigh, the Soo Eagles pressured their way to a 4-1 triumph over the French River Rapids in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League action Friday night at Pullar Stadium.
The Eagles needed just 75 seconds to take flight in this one as Cooper Fredericks redirected in a Gabriel Clark point shot past Burleigh, for his team-leading 30th goal of the season.
Adding another at 9:06, Sault Ste. Marie’s Ilian Danilov came up-ice with speed and worked a give-and-go with Lucas Caulfield that he eventually steered in.
Exchanging markers in the waning moments of the first period, the Soo’s Tyler Fortson connected from close range with under eight seconds remaining.
Then French River’s Daniil Grishachev pushed a play ahead right off the draw that Bryson Villeneuve chased down and chipped the puck past Jace Knoerle to put the visitors on the board.
In the middle session, the Eagles brought pace for most of it, but could not solve Burleigh, who continued to kept his club in it.
Moving to the final frame, the Soo eventually got another when Caulfield found the range with a sharp wrist shot from between the circles, with 4:37 to go, in rounding out the scoring.
Both teams resume NOJHL play Saturday as the Eagles host the league-leading Greater Sudbury Cubs while the Rapids visit the Soo Thunderbirds in a couple of 7 p.m. starts.
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