SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. – The Soo Eagles saw Jake Lamberty pot a pair of tallies to help propel his side to a 5-1 triumph over the Espanola Express in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League match-up Wednesday night at Pullar Stadium.
The Eagles earned the advantage with a pair of first period markers to go up by two early.
George Orfanos put Sault Ste. Marie in front at 6:23 while Lamberty added to the lead just over seven minutes later as the hosts carried a 2-0 cushion into the opening intermission.
The Soo then went up by three at 3:59 of the second stanza with Caleb Wood collecting his 20th tally of the campaign, which is a new career single-season high for the 19-year-old forward from Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.
Picking up a late power play in the session, Espanola got on the board at 17:05 with Diego Pasula picking up his eighth marker of the year.
Countering, Lamberty bagged his second of the night and 11th overall before the period was complete as the Soo took a 4-1 lead after 40 minutes.
They then finished off the home ice victory with the lone tally of the third as Eric Vanderhoff rounded out the scoring midway through the frame with help from Joel Brandinger and Dominic Skelja, with the latter running a modest point streak to three in the process.
Shots on goal finished up 39-25 in favour of the Eagles with Shane Brancato getting the win while Carson Boutin suffered the defeat.
