By Matt Stefano
The Soo Thunderbirds have not lost in regulation time since December 5th in a 3-2 setback vs Cochrane on John Rhodes ice and for the first time since then, the T-Birds were looking to extend their point steak to fourteen games tonight against the same team.
The Soo got on the board first as Brett Jeffries notched his eleventh from Matt Busby and David Radke 8:34 into the first. Anthony Miller’s eighteenth from Matt Mitchell and Eric Hillock put the Soo up 2-0 just seventeen seconds later. Aviv Milner’s thirteenth just fifty one seconds to go in the first cut the lead to 2-1 from Max Glashauser.
With the Soo leading 2-1 heading into the second, it would be Jason Berube’s thirteenth at 14:34 tying things up at two, with assists going to Daniel Stagg and Dylan Sakatch.
The teams were tied 2-2 after forty and just 1:48 into the third, it would be Aviv Milner getting his second of the night and fourteenth of the season from Henry Berger and Anthony Filoso to put the Crunch up 3-2. Daniel Stagg’s unassisted goal and eleventh at 15:53 gave the Crunch a two goal lead. Then with just 1:09 left to go in regulation it would be Henry Berger’s seventh goal of the season into an empty net to seal the deal unassisted as the Cochrane Crunch went on to defeat the Soo Thunderbirds 5-2 tonight on John Rhodes ice.
Mario Culina made twenty four saves for the Soo’s loss.
The T-Birds now head out on the road for four straight road games beginning on Friday, February 6th, when they travel to Kirkland Lake for their final regular season meeting vs the Gold Miners. Game time is 7:30 from the Joe Mavrinac Community Complex.
