Thunderbirds finish off sweep of home-and-home vs. Beavers

BLIND RIVER, Ont. – A Braden King marker late in the second period proved to be the game-winner as the Soo Thunderbirds skated to a 3-1 win over the Blind River Beavers Saturday in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League play at the Blind River Community Centre.

A night after being defeated in Sault Ste. Marie, it was Beavers who were quick to strike in this one thanks to Anthony Bastianello’s third of the season at 2:18.

However the Thunderbirds came back four minutes later with Tanner Mayne capitalizing on a power play to tie it.

Sault Ste. Marie then went on top late in the second stanza as King connected at 18:03.

They then struck 13 seconds into the final frame, via the man advantage, as Nick Smith buried his team-leading 34th to put the visitors up by a pair.

Soo goalkeeper Eric Schuch did the rest finishing with 30saves in earning the victory helping his side improve to 34-14-2-1 on the season.

Cam Burggrabe made 41 stops in the loss for Blind River, who fell to 32-19-2-0 overall.