saultsports Photos: Helene Rancourt
BLIND RIVER, Ont. – An early goal by James Legler, along with some third period insurance, sent the Soo Thunderbirds on their way to a 6-3 victory over the Blind River Beavers Tuesday in the seventh and deciding game of their Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League quarter-final series at the Blind River Community Centre.
With the win, the Thunderbirds take the best-of-seven affair 4-3 and now move on to meet the No. 1 seeded Greater Sudbury Cubs in semifinal play beginning later in the week.
Coming out hard, Sault Ste. Marie opened the night’s scoring 50 seconds into the match-up.
On the marker, the Thunderbirds’ Callum McAuley collected his own attempt that rang off the post and fired it across to an open Legler in the left circle, who ripped it past Blind River netminder Connor Dunham-Fox.
Tying it up half-way through the opening frame, defenceman A.J. Saadeh led a rush into the Soo zone and after making a crafty move between his legs with the puck, he teed up Ryder Hill, who cranked the equalizer by goaltender Noah Metivier.
Remaining level into the second stanza, the Thunderbirds retook the lead during a man advantage when Jacob Smith jammed in a loose puck laying in the crease off a James Elliot chance.
Coming right back, the visitors tacked on another in rapid succession with Jonathan Sonedecker roofing one from a tight angle while coming down the right wing.
Carrying their cushion into the final frame, the T-Birds extended their edge at 4:09 when a Bryan Fenlon head-man feed sent Elliot driving down the side boards where he powered his way to the net and put a low attempt through the legs of Dunham-Fox.
Helping secure the series win four minutes later, Legler picked off an errant Beavers’ pass in the slot and fired it high glove side.
Getting one back with seven minutes remaining, Blind River’s Caleb Walker hammered a blast by Metivier from the left circle.
However the Soo put it away on a two-on-one that saw Nate Dugwell finish off a Legler set-up.
Then one final marker for the home side in the late going saw Beavers’ captain Wyatt Gibson get a piece of a Saadeh point blast to round out the scoring.
NOJHL quarter-final
Soo Thunderbirds vs. Blind River Beavers
Thunderbirds win best-of-seven series 4-3
Game 1: Beavers 1 Thunderbirds 0
Game 2: Thunderbirds 5 Beavers 4
Game 3: Beavers 4 Thunderbirds 3
Game 4: Thunderbirds 4 Beavers 2
Game 5: Beavers 3 Thunderbirds 2 (OT)
Game 6: Thunderbirds 3 Beavers 0
Game 7: Thunderbirds 6 Beavers 3
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