Photos: Helene Rancourt
BLIND RIVER, ON – Jesse Dupuis scored twice including the game-winner midway through the third period as the Blind River Beavers edged the Soo Eagles 6-4 at the Blind River Community Centre on Monday afternoon.
The win was the 7th straight for league-leading Beavers who move one point ahead of the Greater Sudbury Cubs for first in the NOJHL West.
On the game-winner, Dupuis came down the right wing, went behind the Eagles net and then from the slot fired a wrist shot that snuck by Eagles goalie Anthony Zolezzi breaking a 4-4 third period tie at 12:40 of the third period.
Michael Gallagher solidified the win with an empty net goal at 19:12 of the third to secure the 6-4 win for the Beavers.
Early on it looked like the Beavers would run away with it as they built up a 3-0 first period lead on goals by Daniel Vasic, Dupuis and Evan Fraccaro with a power play goal before the 13-minute mark of the first.
The Eagles cut into the lead late in the first when Gabriel Fisher netted his 7th on an Eagles power play at 18:04 of the opening frame.
Fisher got his second of the game at 6:58 of the second period to pull the Eagles within one at 3-2.
Wyatt Gibson restored the Beavers two-goal lead as he got his 6th at 14:58 in the second to make it 4-2 after two.
The Eagles power play went to work early in the third as Jack Ohlund got his 11th at 2:48, making it 4-3.
Nolan Hendry got the equalizer for the Eagles at 5:38 to make it 4-4.
It stayed that way for about six minutes before Dupuis’ game-winner for the Beavers.
The win improves the Beavers record to 39-10 while the Eagles drop to 29-17-1-2.