Thunderbirds cage Black Bears in overtime

In what head coach Toots Kovacs said was their biggest game of the season thus far, the Soo Thunderbirds captured a huge overtime win on Tuesday night in the Michigan Sault.

At the Big Bear Arena, a goal by Adam Kauppi 3:56 into the extra frame lifted the Thunderbirds to a 2-1 Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League victory over the Northern Michigan Black Bears to give the Soo back third place in the standings.

The victory gives the Thunderbirds (23-11-1) a one point lead with a game in hand over Northern Michigan (20-10-6) for third spot. The Soo, with 13 regular season games remaining, sits just a point behind North Bay for second and eight points behind first place Sudbury with two games in hand.

On Tuesday, which was the first of five remaining contests between the two teams, Jim Ceglarek of the Black Bears did not open the scoring until 39:39 into the game with a power play goal.

In the third period, Drew Jarrett scored 6:03 in to tie the game for the Thunderbirds and set up Kauppi's game winner. Michael Quesnele picked up an assist on Kappi's marker in a return from the Soo Greyhounds.

Michael Maulucci turned in a standout performance in goal and stopped 39 of 40 for the win and first star honours. The Thunderbirds fired 24 shots on Tony Stoehr.

The Thunderbirds do not return to action until next Wednesday when they visit the Black Bears once again at the Big Bear Arena at 7:30 p.m.