Five-goal third period lifts Thunderbirds to big win over Express

Returning from a two-plus week break between games, the Soo Thunderbirds skated to an 8-1 win over the Espanola Express on Tuesday night at the John Rhodes Community Centre.

In what was a close game through 40 minutes, the Thunderbirds exploded for five goals in the third period to break things open en route to the win, their second of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League season.

The Thunderbirds opened the scoring late in the first period as defenceman Cam Dutkiewicz picked up his first of the year on a one-timer from the left point on a cross-ice feed from Connor Toms with 1:12 to go in the frame.

The Thunderbirds increased the lead to 3-0 thanks to a pair of goals in the second period from Caleb Wood.

Wood made it 2-0 at 11:24 of the middle period when he beat Espanola netminder Carson Boutin with a shot from the slot, who left the game a short time later for the Express.

Just 2:24 later, Wood made it 3-0, beating Espanola goaltender Luke Beally on the first shot against the new Express netminder.

Sault native Cole Delarosbil got Espanola on the board in the final minute of the second period.

To the left of the Sault net, Delarosbil redirected a nive feed from Lucas Littlejohn on the power play to send the game into the third with the home side leading 3-1.

Just 1:44 into the third, Tyson Doucette made it 4-1 Thunderbirds as he scored on a one-timer from the top of the right circle on a feed from Toms on the power play.

The Thunderbirds went up 5-1 at 8:12 as Michael Chaffay scored his fourth of the year, cutting to the Espanola net from the right wing and sliding a backhand past Beally at 9:12.

1:18 after the Chaffay goal, Brock Santa Maria scored his second of the season to make it 7-1.

Cooper Smyl then scored a shorthanded marker just 16 seconds later before capping off the scoring with a power play goal at 12:45 of the third.

Toms finished the night with three assists for the Thunderbirds while Mark Hill and Russell Oldham added a pair of assists each.

Chaffay had a goal and an assist for the Thunderbirds.

Boutin stopping 24 of 26 shots before leaving the game in the second half of the second period. Beally made 30 saves on 36 shots the rest of the way.

Scott Young made 30 saves for the Thunderbirds.

Tuesday’s win lifts the Thunderbirds record to 2-2-1 (win-loss-shootout loss) through five games though the team has won two straight after dropping their first three games, which included a shootout loss to Blind River on Nov. 28.

The Thunderbirds and Express return to action locally on Thursday night in a 7 p.m. puck drop at the John Rhodes Community Centre.

Following that game, the cohort will shift to Espanola for a pair of games on the weekend. Puck drop on Saturday and Sunday is set for 2 p.m. at the Espanola Regional Recreation Complex.