Late 2nd period outburst sends Eagles over Gold Miners

SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. A three-goal outburst in a span of two minutes and 23 seconds in the back half of the second period helped send the Soo Eagles on their way to a 4-2 triumph over the slumping Kirkland Lake Gold Miners in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League action Saturday at Pullar Stadium.

An early power play helped the home side open the scoring 3:43 into the contest as Dominic Skrelja’s sixth of the season saw him score for a third straight outing.

Kirkland Lake came back to level the proceedings before the first frame was complete as Kyler Campbell scored for a fourth time with assists going to Cameron Neaylon and Max Newnam.

Up a skater to commence the second, the Gold Miners took the lead when Casey Gerstein slammed in his third at 1:16 to put the visitors in front.

The Eagles then got their three goal in rapid succession to take a 4-2 edge into the intermission as Caleb Wood, Skrelja and Malik Ali all found the back of the net in quick order to round out the night’s scoring.

Shane Brancato made 27 saves to pick up the win for the Soo while Kyle McNair faced 40 shots in a losing cause for Kirkland Lake.