SAULT STE. MARIE, Ont. – A Tyler Fyfe tally with 43 seconds left in the second period proved to be the game-winner as the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners prevailed with 3-2 victory over the Soo Thunderbirds Friday in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League action at John Rhodes Community Centre.
This match-up was scoreless until the late going of the first frame when each scored in the final minute to make it 1-1 after one
Marshal Nikitin put the Gold Miners in front at 19:36 only to see Braedin Robbins counter for Sault Ste. Marie with just five seconds left in the session.
Action in the middle stanza saw Kirkland Lake go back on top seven and a half minutes into the stanza on Nikitin’s second of the night and 13th overall.
Fyfe then notched the eventual difference maker in the waning of the second to put the visitors up by two after 40 minutes.
Camaryn Baber brought the Thunderbirds to within one 27 seconds into the third however Gold Miners’ goaltender Ryan Winter shut the door the rest of the way to earn the road decision.
Newly acquired Gregory Trudeau-Paquet had assists on all three Kirkland Lake markers in his debut with his new club. Fyfe meanwhile had a couple of helpers to go with his game-winner.
Winter ended up with 25 saves in the triumph while Eric Schuch faced any many shots in defeat for the Soo.
Photos courtesy of James Egan’s Sports Photography
