Eagles derail Express 6-2

ESPANOLA, Ont. – Two tallies in each period helped the Soo Eagles get past the Espanola Express 6-2 in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League action Friday evening at the Regional Recreation Complex.

It didn’t take the Eagles long to get going offensively as Christian Bardarson connected just 35 seconds after the opening face-off.

Owen Kipke then came back six minutes later and found the back of the net for his first NOJHL goal to put the visitors up by a pair after one period of play.

Moving into the middle stanza Jacob Palmerio clicked 62 seconds in to put Sault Ste. Marie up by three before Espanola got one back at 2:19 as Sam Blumberger finished off the work of Jarod Hurley and James Way with the latter earning his initial league point.

It was more Soo before the session was done though as Nick Techel it made it 4-1 at 14:24.

The Eagles then took full control early in the third as Jake Saxton and Jonathon Lakhani added to the visitor’s cushion before the period was five minutes old.

Espanola rounded out the scoring in the late going to round out the scoring thanks to a Mackenzie Schopfer power play effort.

Hayden Clark dished out three assists for the Soo.

Carter McPhail started and made 28 saves overall to earn the victory in 51 and a half minutes of work while John Massara stopped seven of eight in third period relief for the Eagles.

Jacob Hutching was pepper with 50 shots in defeat for the Express.