SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. – Lucas Signoretti’s second goal of the game, which came on a two-man advantage, with under seven minutes remaining in regulation was the game-winner as the Espanola Paper Kings got by the Soo Eagles 4-3 in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League West Division encounter Friday at Pullar Stadium.
The visiting Eagles scored first as they came out of their own zone in transition on a three-on-one and saw Blake Peters-Davey drive to the net and finish off a feed put in front that got by Eagles’ netminder Logan Raffaele at 5:19.
Opening up offensively, the teams connected three times in just over a minute to make the score 2-2 heading into the intermission.
Hunter Friesen got Sault Ste. Marie on the board as he deftly deflected a Michael Stec point blast.
Peters-Davey answered that on the next shift when he drove down the left wing and to the net where he tucked a backhand through the legs of Raffaele.
Replying rapidly, Sault Ste. Marie captain Jack Mortson went upstairs on Espanola’s Jake Marois for his team-leading 21st tally of the campaign.
Taking their turn to get the lead, the Eagles went up 3-2 four minutes into the second when Kenny Belanger Jr. steered in a Mortson set-up on a two-on-one.
However, Signoretti tied it off some Paper Kings’ pressure and buried a shot from the left face-off dot to knot the affair at 3-3.
Heading to the third, Signoretti then provided the difference maker with his club up two skaters, as he cruised to the high slot and fired one into the top lefthand corner to help the guests pull out the win.
The result sees Espanola move four points ahead of the Michigan Soo in the standings, in their race for a playoff spot, as they improve to 19-14-2-2.
In defeat, the Eagles dipped to 17-16-3-1 on the campaign.