NORTHERN ONTARIO JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
NOJHL NETWORK MEDIA UPDATE
Release Date: Saturday, Dec. 12, 2015
Thunderbirds rally late to tie then upend Voodoos in OT
SAULT STE. MARIE, Ont. – A resilient Soo Thunderbirds side rallied from a two-goal deficit in the third period then won it in overtime as they defeated the Powassan Voodoos 3-2 Saturday in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League contest held at Essar Centre.
After a scoreless opening frame, Powassan went up early in the second as Nicky Grose beat T-Birds starter Mario Culina at 1:48.
The Voodoos extended their cushion to 2-0 with four minutes left in the second as Nathaniel McLeod scored for a 13th time in 2015-16.
Sault Ste. Marie started their comeback 93 seconds into the third as Matthew Caruso put one past Powassan netminder Garrett Forrest.
The Thunderbirds then forced extra time with 1:59 left in regulation on a Mark Tassone power play marker.
Keeping up the pressure, the hosts completed their rally as Caruso, who also assisted on the tying tally, struck again supplying the game-winner with 1:17 left in the initial OT session.
Nathan Hebert helped set-up two goals for the Soo in the triumph.
Culina made 18 stops in picking up the win for the Thunderbirds.
Forrest was the busier of the two netminders as he faced 45 shots in the OT setback in a game that saw the visitors pick-up a point on the night.
With the decision, the Thunderbirds reached the 50-point plateau on the season improving to 25-3-0-0 overall.
Powassan now has 46 points on the year as their record went to 22-4-1-1.
