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Cubs fall in OT thriller, now fighting to stave off elimination

Soo Thunderbirds lead semi-final playoff series 3-1
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The Greater Sudbury Cubs are one game from elimination in their Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League semi-final playoff series against the Soo Thunderbirds.

The Cubs fell 4-3 in overtime during an April 11 match at the John Rhodes Community Centre in Sault Ste. Marie.

The win gives the Birds a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series as the teams head into Game 5 on Thursday (April 13) at the Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex. Puck drops at 7:05 p.m. If you can’t make it in person, you can watch the game on HockeyTV.com.

The game looked like the Cubs had it in the bag early on, scoring two goals before the 10-minute mark of the first period to take a 2-0 lead.

Nolan Newton scored his first of the playoffs at 6:12, tucking one past Sault Ste. Marie netminder Landon Miller to give Sudbury the 1-0 lead. Then a few shifts later, the Cubs won the draw and Cameron Walker jammed the puck in to give Greater Sudbury the 2-0 lead.

The Birds would get one back before the first intermission after Soo defender Ranon Joseph’s crafty move at the blueline opened a hole that allowed him to drive to the left circle where his crisp wrist shot beat Cubs goalkeeper Noah Metivier to make it a 2-1 game.

At 16:12 of the second, the Thunderbirds tied it up at 2-2 off a goal by Tyler Boudreau.

Two minutes later and with two minutes to go in the second, Cubs forward Kyloe Ellis’ solid forechecking freed the puck and a waiting Cole Crowder fire it over a sprawling Landon Miller to give the Cubs the lead again.

“Late in the third, the T-Birds got their goalie out for an extra attacker and were rewarded with a tying tally off the stick of Youssef Chauachi as he banged in the equalizer with 44 seconds remaining in regulation.”

In overtime, a bad bounce proved Greater Sudbury’s downfall.

The Soo’s Austin Fellinger fired one at the net that rebounded off a Cubs defender and trickled into the net just 1:59 into OT to give the Thunderbirds the 4-3 win.

The Cubs will be looking to stave off elimination when the Thunderbirds come to the Gerry McCrory on April 13 for Game 5 of the NOJHL West Division final.

NOJHL West Division Final

  • Game 1: Thunderbirds 5 Cubs 2
  • Game 2: Thunderbirds 5 Cubs 2
  • Game 3: Cubs 5 Thunderbirds 2
  • Game 4: Thunderbirds 4 Cubs 3 (OT)
  • Game 5: Thursday, April 13 @ Sudbury 7:05 p.m. (Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex)
  • Game 6*: Saturday, April 15 @ Soo 7 p.m. (John Rhodes Community Centre)
  • Game 7*: Tuesday, April 18 @ Sudbury 7:05 p.m. (Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex)

*-if necessary


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