TIMMINS, Ont. – A Drew Christian tally 6:19 into overtime, off a fortunate deflection, was the difference as the Soo Thunderbirds withstood a late rally by the Timmins Rock before prevailing 4-3 in the opening game of their Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League playoff match-up Friday at McIntyre Arena.
It was Sault Ste. Marie who notched the initial goal of the series, 11:29 into the first period, as Deven Jones-McDonald slammed in a feed across from Aiden Aitkinson off a rebound given up by Timmins starter Frédéric Cousineau.
Pulling even late in the middle frame, after controlling a draw in the Thunderbirds zone, saw defenceman Ben Climenhaga send an attempt from the left point that took a couple of bounces before Maxx Hamelin corralled it and put it high over the outstretched pad of Soo goalkeeper Nathan McGuire at 18:57.
Moving to the third, the T-Birds retook the lead as Wyatt Groth jumped in and finished off the leftovers with a backhand on a sprawling Cousineau, who had denied Landon Hill with a save moments earlier.
Adding another with 6:35 to go, Jones-McDonald potted his second of the night with help from Atkinson and James Legler after breaking out of their own zone in transition.
Roaring back late to tie it and force OT, the Rock struck twice to send it to a fourth period.
Timmins captain Brayden Cyr made it 4-3 at 16:24 as the defenceman snapped one in from distance during a power play.
Then with Cousineau for an extra attacker, Kaeden McArthur connected with 1:17 remaining in regulation to knot the affair as he darted around the outside then roofed a short-side sizzler on a fully screened McGuire.
Regrouping in extra time, Christian got the decider when he got his stick into an attempted pass across by a Rock defender that sent the puck to the net from a sharp angle that changed direction and caught Cousineau slightly off guard as it found its way in to give the Soo the win in fortunate circumstances for the visitors.
The clubs will get right back at it Saturday at 7 p.m., at ‘The Mac.’
No. 4 Timmins Rock vs. No. 5 Soo Thunderbirds
Game 1: Thunderbirds 4, Rock 3 (OT)
Game 2: Saturday, March 21 @ Timmins 7 p.m. (McIntyre Arena)
Game 3: Tuesday, March 24 @ Soo 7 p.m. (John Rhodes Community Centre)
Game 4: Wednesday, March 25 @ Soo 7 p.m. (John Rhodes Community Centre)
Game 5*: Friday, March 27 @ Timmins 7 p.m. (McIntyre Arena)
Game 6*: Sunday, March 29 @ Soo 7 p.m. (John Rhodes Community Centre)
Game 7*: Tuesday, March 31 @ Timmins 7 p.m. (McIntyre Arena)
*-if necessary
Soo leads best-of-seven series 1-0
Game Photos:
Thomas Perry – The Daily Press/Postmedia Network
