T-Birds experience déjà vu against Rayside

The Soo Thunderbirds are really beginning to dread 4-0 leads.

On Friday evening, the Thunderbirds opened up a 4-0 lead against the Sudbury Northern Wolves only to see the Wolves battle back to within one before the Thunderbirds scored twice in the game's final five minutes to seal a 6-3 victory.

To use the words of the great Yogi Berra, Sunday afternoon against the Rayside Balfour Sabrecats was like "déjà vu all over again" as the Thunderbirds opened up a 4-0 lead after one period only to see the Sabrecats fight back to within a goal.

Again, the Thunderbirds held on for the victory, this time by a 4-3 score.

The Thunderbirds looked as though they were going to be in control of the game throughout after opening up a lead in the first period and holding the Sabrecats to just four shots in the opening frame.

Joe Thorburn opened the scoring at 3:14 with his fifth goal of the season. Derek MacKay and Tyler Lannigan gave the Thunderbirds a 3-0 advantage midway through the period when they scored just over two minutes apart at 9:02 and 11:18, respectively.

Matt Caria scored what would be the eventual game winner on the man advantage at 15:34.

The Sabrecats cut the lead down to 4-1 at 8:21 of the second period while on the man advantage.

With a faceoff in the Rayside zone, Thunderbirds defenceman Jeff Elliot received the puck at the right point but could not control the pass. A cross-ice pass attempt by Elliot just outside the Rayside blueline was picked off by Jordan Cheechoo who proceeded to beat Thunderbirds goaltender Mike Maulucci on a brakeaway.

In the third period, the Sabrecats continued to claw their way back into the game. At 7:18 Ben Robichaud cut the lead down to 4-2.

Following the goal, the Thunderbirds were handed a pair of minor penalties, a bench minor along with a penalty to Maulucci, by referee Denis Desjardins.

On the ensuing two man advantage, the Sabrecats struck again as Jeff Christison, whom Rayside acquired from the Sudbury Northern Wolves at the trade deadline, scored at 8:23. The Sabrecats had numerous chances to tie the game late but were denied as the Thunderbirds held on for the victory.

Maulucci finished the night with 21 saves while Darren Rowlandson stopped 27 shots in the Rayside goal.

Both goaltenders benefited from goals being waved off as a potential Rayside goal was waved off and three potential Thunderbird goals were waved off during the course of the game.

Thunderbirds head coach Toots Kovacs said following the game that he was pleased for the most part with the effort put forth by his team.

"I told the boys after the first period that we had the dreaded 4-0 lead," Kovacs laughed following the game. "Aside from some mental lapses though I thought we played better than on Friday night (against Sudbury)."

Kovacs was also pleased with the play of Soo Greyhounds prospect Jacob Lalonde, who spent the game playing on a line with two other OHL prospects in Matt Dias, a draft pick of the Sudbury Wolves, and Matt Caria, who is a draft pick of the Toronto St. Michael's Majors.

Kovacs is pleased with the way that line has played together so far and feels that Lalonde "will really compliment that line."

Kovacs also said that he was impressed with the play of the Sabrecats and felt as though they are playing better every time out.

"(Sabrecats coach Jason Stos) has done a great job with that team," Kovacs said. "They're a team that will steadily improve."

With the weekend now behind them, the Thunderbirds will be back in action at home on Wednesday night in a key matchup against the Blind River Beavers.

With the battle brewing in the standings between the two clubs, the game takes on more meaning as second place in the West Division is on the line. Game time at the John Rhodes Community Centre is 7:30 p.m.

(All photos supplied courtesy of Jim Egan.)