SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. – The surging Rayside-Balfour Canadians skated to their fifth consecutive Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League victory Wednesday evening as they went on to edge the Soo Eagles 2-1 in a West Division encounter at Pullar Stadium.
Rayside-Balfour came out quickly and notched the night’s initial tally just 50 seconds into the contest as Mitchell Martin collected his second of the campaign.
The contest was a battle of netminders from there as it stayed 1-0 for the visitors through the remainder of the first period and all of the second stanza.
Sault Ste. Marie did pick up the equalizer 5:25 into the third period when Caleb Wood scored for a fourth straight outing.
However, the Canadians countered less than a minute later when Joel Mongeon secured his first of the campaign to put the guests back on top in what turned out to be the game-winner.
The Soo picked up a late man advantage and also pulled their goalkeeper, Shane Brancato, for an additional attacker, but the guests held firm defensively to extend their winning streak.
Making 39 saves to win his fourth straight start was Rayside-Balfour netminder David Bowen.
Facing 30 shots in defeat was Eagles stopper Brancato.
