Eagles’ Bardarson ups NOJHL goal lead in win over Wildcats

SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. – Christian Bardarson scored three times to up his Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League-leading goal total to 33 Wednesday evening to help send the Soo Eagles past the Elliot Lake Wildcats 5-2 at Pullar Stadium.

Elliot Lake did open the scoring 9:06 into the contest as Jacob Kelly collected his 25th tally of the campaign while extending a point streak to nine games in succession in the process.

However Sault Ste. Marie came right back 44 seconds later on Bardarson’s first of the night.

It was more Eagles just over a minute later with Jacob Palmerio putting the home side in front with his 19th goal this season.

The Soo extended their lead 4:23 into the middle frame, thanks to their special teams, as Bardarson struck shorthanded to make it a 3-1 game after two periods of play.

Moving on to the third, the Eagles put the game away beginning with a Nick Techel tally before Bardarson finished off his second hat trick this month with his NOJHL-best 33rd marker of 2017-18 to extend their margin.

Connor Taylor did get one back for the Wildcats with just over three minutes remaining in what turned out to be the final goal of the game.

C.J. Banser chipped in with two assists for the Soo.

Shane Brancato made 32 saves to record the win while Logan Sawka faced 28 shots in defeat for the Wildcats.

With the result the Eagles improved to 25-16-0-1 while Elliot Lake slipped to 19-23-3-0 overall.