By Matt Stefano
After grabbing game one of a best of five semi finals series yesterday with a 4-2 over North Bay, the Soo Thunderbirds Midgets were looking to take a 2-0 series lead this afternoon at the Essar Centre.
Matt Murray put the Soo up 1-0 early just 2:18 into the first from Brendan Gillis. Just 1:36 later, it would be North Bay tying it at one courtesy of Robert Ranger’s first of the playoffs from Eric Allair. Brendan Gillis would put the Soo back in front 2-1, at 5:16 from Jared Fanti and Cameron Elsby. Jakob Porco put the T-Birds up 3-1 at 12:30 from Matt MacKay and Jonathan Dyer, then with just two seconds to go in the first, it would be Ryan Mulligan getting his second of the playoffs from Matt MacKay and Jakob Porco to put the Soo up 4-1 after twenty.
Zach Senecal’s power play goal just three minutes into the second from Matt MacKay and Jared Fanti, put the Soo up 5-1, which also spelled the end of Colton Point’s afternoon in net as he was replaced by Brendan Dale.
With the Soo up by four heading into the third, Brad Thrower would extend the lead to 6-1 just 1:38 in from Matt Murray. Matt MacKay would get his third of the playoffs at 6:01 on the power play from Ryan Mulligan and Matt Murray to make it 7-1, before Nolan Makkonen’s power play goal at 13:40 from Jared Fanti and Jakob Porco rounded out the scoring as the T-Birds went on to an 8-1 victory in game two vs North Bay and can sweep the series on Saturday, February 28th in the gateway city at 2:20 from West Ferris Community Centre.
Joey Roberts was in goal today for the Soo’s win.
