ELLIOT LAKE – A Connor Scott unassisted goal 13:10 into the third period proved to be the game-winner as the Elliot Lake Wildcats edged the Soo Thunderbirds 4-3 Friday in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League match-up at Centennial Arena.
Sault Ste. Marie got on the board first as Boris Katchouk notched his 14th of the season at 2:56 to run a modest point streak to five outings.
Elliot Lake tied it before the opening stanza was complete courtesy of a Trayvon Henry effort four minutes later giving him points in four straight.
The Wildcats went in front near the five-minute mark of the second as Shane Woolsey connected during a man advantage opportunity.
The homeside then went up a pair midway though the contest as their captain David Chairelli beat Thunderbirds starter Brian Kment to make it a 3-1 game after 40 minutes.
Matt Pinder pulled the visitors to within one four minutes into the final frame, only to see Scott provide the eventual difference maker with 6:50 to go in regulation.
The Thunderbirds’ Anthony Miller made it interesting with 36 seconds left, but would get no closer before time expired.
Katchouk and the Wildcats’ Cole Hepler each had two assists on the night.
Allan Menary was solid making 38 saves to pick up the win for Elliot Lake while Kment had 33 stops in defeat for the T-Birds