Thunderbirds head on road after dropping overtime decision (13 photos)

The Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League’s West Division final wasn’t expected to be a short series.

The Soo Thunderbirds and Rayside-Balfour Canadians played eight times in the regular season and five of the games were decided by one goal.

Sunday night was no different as the Canadians picked up a 4-3 overtime win at the John Rhodes Community Centre.

In the process, Rayside evened the best-of-7 series between the two clubs at one game apiece after the Thunderbirds won the opener on Saturday.

Giordano Biondo scores the overtime winner for the Canadians 4:21 into the extra frame as he beat Thunderbirds netminder Colin Ahern from the high slot glove side to tie the series.

After the Thunderbirds couldn’t clear the zone, a loose puck found its way to Chase Stillman in the right circle who proceeded to find Biondi in the slot.

The overtime winner came after the Thunderbirds forced the extra frame with a power play goal in the final minute of regulation time as Steven Bellini scored his second of the playoffs for the home team.

Matthew Bazarin and Kaidan McDonald also had goals for the Thunderbirds. Lucas Theriault assisted on a pair of Sault goals.

Ahern made 18 saves.

Stillman had a goal and an assist for Rayside while Evan Krassey and Brett McGlade also scored. Joel Mongeon assisted on two goals.

Canadians goaltender David Bowen made 32 saves.

The series now shifts to the Chelmsford Arena for games three and four. Game three is set for Wednesday night with game four the following night.

Game five will be in Sault Ste. Marie on Saturday at the GFL Memorial Gardens.

Puck drop for all three games is set for 7 p.m.

In the East Division final, Bradley Golant scored at 9:37 of overtime to give the Hearst Lumberjacks a 4-3 win over the Powassan Voodoos in Hearst on Sunday. Golant had a pair of goals for Hearst. The Lumberjacks now hold a 2-0 series lead as it shifts to Powassan for games three and four.