Eagles power play helps ice Wildcats

ELLIOT LAKE, Ont. – The surging Soo Eagles scored five times on the power play as they racked up their sixth straight Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League win Friday night as they iced the Elliot Lake Wildcats 8-3 at Centennial Arena.

Sault Ste. Marie started strong as they skated out to a 2-0 lead before the match-up was 10 minutes old as Kellan Tharaldson scored at even strength at 4:35 before Christian Bardarson connected on the power play at 9:08.

David Elford got one back for Elliot Lake a few shifts later only to see Kobe Keller counter for the Eagles with their second man advantage marker of the period.

The goals continued before the frame was finished with Evan Spencer picking up another for the Wildcats at 16:29 before Owen Kipke added another power play effort for the Soo to put them up 4-2 after 20 minutes.

Special teams continued to click for the Eagles in the middle stanza as they tacked on two more while up a skater with Keller and Nick Techel both converting before Jacob Kelly got one back for Elliot Lake at 17:05.

The Soo then put the game away in the third as Techel and Matt Capisciolto wrapped up the night’s scoring.

Bardarson capped off a big evening with three assists to go with his goal with Techel and Hayden Clark adding two helpers apiece.

Shane Brancato was busy in the Eagles’ net making 49 saves in picking up a well-earned decision.

Allan Menary started for Elliot Lake and suffered the loss allowing four against on 28 attempts with Logan Sawka stopping 36 overall in two periods of relief.