The Greater Sudbury Cubs managed to tie up their first round playoff series against the Soo Thunderbirds last night at the John Rhodes Community Centre in Sault Ste. Marie on Tuesday evening.
The local Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League squad took their second loss in the series on March 25 in the Sault. Last night, the Cubs were looking to get one back, which they did, staving off a late push from the T-Birds to win the game 4-3.
The Sault opened the scoring on Tuesday night after Jacob Smith muscled his way to the front of the net on a rush and steered a Daniel Beaupre feed past Cubs’ netminder Noah Metivier.
About nine minutes later, the Cubs tied things up when defenceman Justin Seguin’s attempt near the blueline somehow managed to find its way past Sault Ste. Marie’s Kolton Bourret.
Samuel Assinewai gave Greater Sudbury the lead during a second period power play. Assinewai grabbed a rebound off an Oliver Smith shot and snapped it past Bourret to make it 2-1.
The Cubs managed to extend their lead in the third period. Assinewai scored his second of the game at 8:38 of the final frame to make it 3-1. Then, with penalties giving the Cubs a two-man advantage, Ethan Larmand extended the lead to 4-1.
The T-Birds weren’t done yet though. On a power play of their own and having pulled their goalie for an extra attacker, Beaupre snapped one upstairs on a downed Metivier. The Soo made it 4-3 with 1:53 remaining, again off the stick of Smith who supplied his second of the night.
And that’s where the game would end.
With the series now tied at 2-2, Game 5 in the series goes Thursday night at Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex. The puck drops at 7:05 p.m.
You can watch in person or tune into FLOHockey.tv to watch online.
Game 6 will be played March 30 at the John Rhodes Community Centre in Sault Ste. Marie. If a Gam 7 is necessary, it will be played April 1 in Sudbury at Countryside.
