GALLERY: Thunderbirds win 6th in a row with triumph over Express

NORTHERN ONTARIO JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE

NOJHL NETWORK MEDIA UPDATE

Release Date: Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016

Thunderbirds win 6th in a row with triumph over Express

SAULT STE. MARIE, Ont. – The Soo Thunderbirds got a pair of goals from Matthew Caruso while Dougie Newhouse posted his second shutout of the season to help their side win their sixth consecutive Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League contest as they skated to a 2-0 triumph over the visiting Espanola Express Thursday evening at Essar Centre.

Sault Ste. Marie began the night’s scoring with 4:15 left in the opening period as Caruso tallied for the 12th time this season and extended a point streak to three in the process.

The Thunderbirds continued to pressure the Express in the middle stanza outshooting them 15-5 in the frame, but the session was scoreless thanks to the efforts of Espanola goaltender Logan Sawka and Newhouse.

Caruso added some insurance for the Soo early in the third and he notched his second of the night and 13th overall at 2:35 to round out the scoring with their only tally in the session, despite a 28-shot barrage in the stanza.

With the game-winning goal, it marked the third of the campaign for Caruso, which ties him for the T-Birds team lead with Gage Stephney and Zach Senecal.

Newhouse finished with 15 stops in picking up the win while Sawka was very solid in defeat for the Express making a personal NOJHL career-high 54 saves along the way.

Photos by James Egan’s Sports Photography