Soo Thunderbirds forward Deven Jones-McDonald lifts a shot up and over the shoulder of Timmins Rock goalie Frédéric Cousineau for the first of his two goals during the first period of Friday night’s NOJHL playoff game at the McIntyre Arena. Jones-McDonald’s two goals helped the Thunderbirds to secure a 4-3 overtime victory and a 1-0 lead in their best-of-seven series. Photo by THOMAS PERRY /The Daily Press
Drew Christian was officially credited with the goal that gave the Thunderbirds their 4-3 overtime victory and a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series
Thomas Perry
The Daily Press/Postmedia Network
An own goal 6:19 into overtime proved to be the undoing of the Timmins Rock in Game 1 of their NOJHL playoff series against the Soo Thunderbirds at the McIntyre Arena, Friday night.
It was an even more crushing blow considering the Rock battled back from a two-goal deficit in the final four minutes of the third period to force overtime.
Drew Christian was officially credited with the goal that gave the Thunderbirds their 4-3 overtime victory and a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.
“It’s a terrible way to go out, but it is what it is and we have to get ready for Game 2,” said Rock coach and general manager Brandon Perry.
“It was a good hockey game. It’s too bad it ended that way.
“I thought we were a little tight, a little nervous at the start. It took us a little while to get going, but in the second and third periods we found our game and started playing well.
“Our D were too slow off the line and we were too slow defending rushes. We have to clean that up.”
Prior to the start of the series, Perry suggested a team is never in trouble until it loses on home ice, something the Rock have now endured.
“Game 2 is going to be a must win for us, absolutely,” he said.
Even though the Thunderbirds were the hottest team in the NOJHL over their final 10 regular season games, the Rock won three of their four encounters with the Soo.
“We just have to clean up a few things and play harder,” Perry said, noting the Rock remain confident despite their Game 1 setback.
“We will make some adjustments, sure, but this was a one-goal game that went to overtime.”
Captain Braedyn Cyr’s power-play marker, with 3:36 on the clock, started the Rock’s third-period comeback.
Kaeden McArthur’s goal with 1:17 remaining in regulation then completed the Rock’s rally.
“K-Mac’s shot was a goal-scorer’s goal,” Perry said, noting the difficulty of McArthur’s shot through a Rock forward, a Soo defender and Thunderbirds goalie Nathan Maguire. “He picked the short side.”
The Thunderbirds jumped out to a 1-0 lead, Friday night, as Deven Jones-McDonald scored the first of his two goals in the game midway through the frame.
Maxx Hamelin’s goal with 1:03 remaining in the second period tied things up for the Rock.
But the Thunderbirds retook the lead early in the third period on a Wyatt Groth goal.
Jones-McDonald’s second goal of the night and playoffs then made it a 3-1 hockey game in favour of the Soo.
Maguire turned aside 39 of the 42 shots the Rock directed his way to earn his first win of the playoffs.
Rock goalie Frédéric Cousineau, who stopped 32 of the 36 shots he faced, was tagged with the loss.
NOJHL NOTES — The Daily Press three stars of the game were Christian (game-winning goal), Jones-McDonald (two goals) and Cyr (one goal, one assist) … The Rock went 1-3 on the power play, while the Thunderbirds were 0-3 with the man advantage … Official attendance at the McIntyre Arena was 785 … Friday’s other action saw the Lumberjacks edge the Espanola Paper Kings 4-3 in Hearst, the Soo Eagles upset the Voodoos 7-4 in Powassan and the Cubs top the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners 6-1 in Greater Sudbury. All series stand at 1-0 in favour of the victors, other than the Cubs, who lead the Gold Miners 2-0 … The Rock will host the Thunderbirds in Game 2 of their best-of-seven series at the McIntyre Arena, on Saturday, at 7 p.m.
