SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. – Roaring back from an early deficit, the Soo Eagles got the night’s final four goals, including three in the third period, to pull out a 5-4 come from behind victory over the Elliot Lake Red Wings Friday night in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League meeting at Pullar Stadium.
The visiting Red Wings gained the upper hand in the back half of the opening frame and they tallied three times to take a 3-0 lead into the first intermission.
Braeden Vis was credited with the initial tally at 12:03 as his attempt towards the target from the left boards clipped off a Sault Ste. Marie defender and bounced past Eagles’ goalkeeper Logan Raffaele.
A couple of shifts later, Adam Matar made it 2-0 Elliot Lake as he chipped one in from close range.
Evan Dantas then capped off the productive session for the guests as he scored on the power play at 17:41 with another chance that hit off a Soo skater and changed direction on its way in.
A goaltending change to begin the second helped spark the Eagles with Kameron Ragon entering in relief.
Picking up an early man advantage to commence the middle frame also aided the Soo as they capitalized thanks to Hunter Friesen lifting one over Cameron Smith in the Red Wings net.
However, Elliot Lake got that back when Adam Scott won a race to the puck and got it back to Matar, who whipped in his second of the night.
Answering that, Nolan Hendry brought the Soo to within two again as he knocked in a rebound while parked to the right of Smith.
Continuing to battle, Gavin Rozema made it 4-3 to bring the Eagles closer as he was there to tip one in from between the hash marks off a point shot.
They then saw Chase Tallaire tie it at 7:24 when he spun in front and neatly tucked the puck between the Elliot Lake goalkeeper’s legs for the equalizer.
Tallaire then capped off the comeback by notching the game-winner with five minutes to go as he went to the net where he took a feed to his left and slid in the decider with a short-range back hand.
The victory sees the Soo move to 18-19-3-1 on the year while the Red Wings fell to 13-26-1-2.
