ELLIOT LAKE, Ont. – A Colin Handy power play blast past the midway mark of the third period proved to be the game-winner as the Soo Eagles earned a hard-fought 2-1 triumph over the Elliot Lake Red Wings Saturday evening in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League play at Centennial Arena.
Returning to the ice shortly after completing last week’s suspended game between the two clubs beforehand with an overtime triumph, Sault Ste. Marie got the scoring going in this one when Alex Freund tipped in a Michael Stec effort from mid-ice, just inside the blueline, for his third goal of the season, nearly 11 minutes into the opening frame.
The 1-0 score line stood up the rest of the first period, and all of the middle stanza, as the Eagles took their narrow lead into the second intermission.
Adding the eventual difference maker with 9:15 to go in regulation, Zachary Briskey teed up Handy with a cross-ice pass, who cranked a one-timer from the right circle, that flew by Smith to put the guests up by a pair.
Getting their goalie out for an extra attacker, as well as picking up a late man advantage, Elliot Lake capitalized while up two skaters to dash Reid Ramsay’s bid for his first NOJHL shutout, with just 26 seconds to play, as Silas Crawford jammed one by the rookie goalkeeper following a hectic goal-mouth scramble in the late-going.
That would be a close as the Red Wings would get however as Ramsay and the Eagles picked up back-to-back wins on the night.
With the consecutive victories, the Soo raised their record 14-11-2-0 on the season while Elliot Lake dipped to 12-13-1-1 overall.
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