Five unanswered goals lift Beavers to win over Thunderbirds

What started out looking like a good night for the Soo Thunderbirds turned into a disappointment.

The Blind River Beavers erased a three-goal deficit through 20 minutes with five unanswered goals in a 5-3 victory over the Thunderbirds Saturday night at the Blind River Community Centre in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League action.

The Thunderbirds came out of the gate quickly, outshooting the Beavers 12-4 in the opening period while taking the lead in the process.

The visitors opened the scoring just over three minutes in thanks to a goal by Daniel Beaupre 3:07 into the contest.

The Thunderbirds extended the lead thanks to a pair of power play goals late in the frame.

Grayson Ebrahim picked up his 15th goal of the season 18 seconds into a power play at 14:20 of the period and Alex Remenda made it a 3-0 game with his 12th goal of the season 2:26 later.

Blind River got on the board 5:25 into the second period as Michael Gallagher scored his 14th goal of the season, beating Thunderbirds goaltender Maverick Fletcher on a breakaway.

Just over three minutes later, the Beavers made it a one-goal game thanks to a marker by veteran forward Evan Fraccaro.

The Beavers wasted little time tying the game in the third period as Daniel Vasic scored 31 seconds into the period.

Brendan Cooke gave the Beavers the lead at 7:46 and Fraccaro capped off the scoring with an empty net goal in the final minute to seal the win for the Beavers.

Fraccaro finished the night with two goals and an assist while Cooke and Gallagher had one of each for the Beavers.  

Goaltender Noah Tegelaar stopped 20 shots for Blind River.

Beaupre had a goal and an assist for the Thunderbirds in the loss.

Fletcher made 22 saves.

With the win, the Beavers have won five in a row and improve to 19-8-0-0 and sit second in the NOJHL’s West Division, six points behind the division-leading Greater Sudbury Cubs.

The Thunderbirds fall to 16-6-2-1 and are fourth in the West Division with 35 points,

After Saturday’s results, four points separate four teams in the West Division between second and fifth. Blind River sits second with 38 points while the Soo (Mich.) Eagles are third with 37. The Thunderbirds are fourth with 35 and the Espanola Paper Kings are fifth with 34 after beating the Eagles on Saturday night.

Next action for both the Thunderbirds and Beavers will be a return match between the two teams in Sault Ste. Marie on Dec. 1 at the John Rhodes Community Centre.