CHELMSFORD, Ont. – A Jacob Partridge goal 4:42 into the third period was the game-winner as the Rayside-Balfour Canadians went on to edge the Soo Eagles 3-2 on a snowy Sunday evening in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League play at Chelmsford Arena.
After a scoreless opening 20 minutes, Rayside-Balfour captain Matthew Neault put the home side on the board with a man advantage marker at 7:14 of the middle stanza.
Sault Ste. Marie came right back however, notching the equalizer just 66 seconds later, as Matt Capisciolto collected his fourth tally of the campaign.
Noah Serre put the Canadians back on top later in the frame as his seventh overall put his club up 2-1 after 40 minutes.
The Eagles would strike quickly in the third to knot the affair once more thanks to Bobby Price finding the back of the net 49 seconds into the stanza.
However Partridge gave Rayside-Balfour the lead for a third and final time less than four minutes later as his 10th goal of the season proved to be the difference maker.
Shots on net in the contest favoured the Canadians by a 43-39 count with Brayden Lachance registering the win while Carter McPhail suffered the narrow setback.
With the result, the Rayside-Balfour move two points up on the Eagles in the NOJHL West Division standings with 45 in total and a 21-11-2-1 record while the Eagles slipped to 21-13-0-1 overall.
Photos courtesy of Rob and Caleigh Fera: www.sudburylight.ca
