Games between the Soo Thunderbirds and Soo Eagles this season have been about as close as they possibly could be.
In four meetings this early in the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League season, one has gone to overtime while two others have been decided in a shootout, including Saturday’s contest in which the Eagles squeezed out a 3-2 shootout win at Pullar Stadium in the Michigan Sault.
Seth Ferguson had the lone goal in the shootout for the Eagles, beating Thunderbirds netminder Noah Metivier with a shot glove side on the Eagles’ third shot.
With the Thunderbirds shooting first in the shootout, Ferguson’s goal meant the Thunderbirds final shooter, rookie defenceman Andrew Gibson, needed to score to extend it but the high-scoring blueliner was stopped by Eagles goaltender Gabe Rosek.
The Eagles opened the scoring in the game late in the first period when Jack Mortson took a pass off to the side of the Thunderbirds goal from Marc LaFrance after a turnover with 19 seconds to go in the period.
The Thunderbirds took the lead thanks to goals in the second period 60 seconds apart late in the frame.
Recently acquired forward Alfred Rotiroti got the team on the board when he scored on a rebound after Tyson Doucette broke in on Rosek after an Eagles turnover but was stopped.
Brock Santa Maria then tied the game with his ninth goal of the season after he cut in from the right wing before beating Rosek with a backhand with 4:05 to go in the period.
Santa Maria has goals in four consecutive games for the Thunderbirds.
The Eagles tied the game in the third period when Chase Tallaire beat Metivier with a shot from the slot glove side 5:17 into the period. The goal was Tallaire’s 14th of the season.
Tallaire and Mortson each had a goal and an assist for the Eagles while Rosek made 26 saves and stopped all three Thunderbirds shooters in the shootout.
Metivier made 35 saves for the Thunderbirds, who fall to 14-4-1-3 with the loss.
The Eagles improve to 12-4-1-0.
The Thunderbirds return to action on Nov. 25 on the road against the Greater Sudbury Cubs at the Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex.