GALLERY: Lumberjacks pull out road win over Thunderbirds

SAULT STE. MARIE, Ont. – The Hearst Lumberjacks used the strength of three-goal second period goals which helped them to pull out a 4-3 road victory over the Soo Thunderbirds Saturday in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League play during Sault Ste. Marie’s annual Pink the Rink night at John Rhodes Community Centre.

Having scored in each of his past four games, it didn’t take Tyler Malpass long to make it tallies in five straight as he notched the night’s opening marker four minutes into the contest.

Hearst did counter with the equalizer a couple of shifts later when Spencer Silver slipped his eighth of the year past Sault Ste. Marie starter Brandon Gordon.

The Thunderbirds regained the lead late in the frame when Kaidan McDonald picked up his club’s second extra man marker of the night.

Heading into the middle stanza, the Lumberjacks came back to tie it once more as Shadow Reuben scored with seven minutes left in the session.

They then took the lead later in the frame as Wade Auger put Hearst in front at 15:07.

Continuing to press, it was more offense from the visitors as Morgan Scriber struck shorthanded before the session was complete as they took a 4-2 lead into the third in what turned out to be the game-winner.

McDonald scored once more on the power play for the Soo five minutes into the third, but they would get no closer as Hearst tightened up defensively from there to secure the road win.

Nicholas Dube finished with 24 saves to record the victory for the Lumberjacks.

Gordon allowed three against on 20 shots for the Thunderbirds while Eric Schuch suffered the loss in nearly 25 minutes of relief stopping six or seven in that span.

Photos courtesy of James Egan’s Sports Photography