BLIND RIVER, Ont. – The Soo Eagles scored once in each period to help lift them to a 3-1 triumph over the Blind River Beavers in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League play Saturday at the Blind River Community Centre.
George Orfanos staked Sault Ste. Marie to the early lead in this one as he collected his 15th goal of the season 6:15 into the contest.
The Eagles added to their lead five and a half minutes into the middle stanza when Riley Jensen also notched his 15th of the campaign to put the visitors up by a pair after 40 minutes.
Heading to the third, the Soo extended their cushion at 11:27 with Jake Lamberty putting in his 10th with an assist going to Ryan Dacks.
Blind River eventually dashed Eagles’ netminder Shane Brancato’s shutout bid with just 57 seconds remaining on a Riley Nadeau marker, which rounded out the night’s scoring.
Brancato did finish with 46 saves on the night to earn a well-deserved victory for the Soo.
Jackson Hjelle in the Beavers’ net handled 33 of 36 in defeat as the Eagles moved past Blind River into third spot in the NOJHL’s West Division.
The Beavers do hold two games in hand however.
Game Photos courtesy of Crystal Serré