SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. – The Rayside-Balfour Canadians came back with two third period goals to force overtime then outscored the Soo Eagles in a four-round shootout to pull out a 5-4 come from behind victory Friday evening in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League West Division affair at Pullar Stadium.
It was a solid start for Sault Ste. Marie in this one as they snagged a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes thanks to a pair of Charley Hanewall markers as he connected for a third straight game and ran a point streak to five consecutive outings in the process.
Rayside-Balfour came out flying to commence the second stanza though by tallying twice before the frame was a minute old on goals from Zachary Snow and Benjamin Hatanaka.
The Eagles did regain the lead before the session was done though on Dominic Skrelja’s fifth of the campaign.
Nathan Solis then put the home side back up by two early in the third before the Canadians countered with markers from Evan Krassey, on the power play, and Brady Maltais at even strength to force overtime.
After the five-minute OT failed to provide a winner, extra shots were need to finalize things.
There Giordano Biondi and Krassey scored for the visitors to finish off the rally and pick up the win.
Hayden Clark had the lone shootout tally for the Soo while George Orfanos dished out three assists in regulation.
Both starting netminders were busy on the night with David Bowen making 49 saves to record the win while Shane Brancato’s 38 stops helped the Eagles earn a point in defeat.