By Matt Stefano
After falling to the Soo Eagles on Saturday evening 4-3 at the Pullar Stadium in the second game of a home and home series, the Soo Thunderbirds were hoping to get back on the winning track on Sunday afternoon as they were in Espanola to take on the Express.
The T-Birds took a 3-0 lead after the first period, getting goals from Jake Behse, Mark Tassone, and Nick Smith.
Ryan Mulligan had a pair of assists in the opening frame while Nick Smith and Mark Tassone set up a goal each.
Espanola would get the lone goal in the second at the 13:35 mark, courtesy of Riley Tilot’s second of the season from Dominik Lavergne and Patrick Smith to cut the T-Birds lead to 3-1 heading into the third.
The Express made things a little more interesting with just under seven minutes to go in regulation as Aaron Roschinsky’s goal on a penalty shot cut the T-Birds lead to 3-2.
Mark Tassone’s second goal (empty net) of the afternoon and third point of the game with just twenty five seconds to go in the third, put things away as the T-Birds doubled up on the Espanola Express 4-2 at the Espanola Regional Recreation Complex.
Tassone’s two goal and one assist performance was also his first career three point game.
Express goalie Logan Sawka made forty stops in the loss while T-Birds rookie netminder Garrett Boyonoski made forty saves for his first career NOJHL win.
The T-Birds will play their final road game of the month on Saturday, September 24th when they take on the Rayside Balfour Canadians at 7:00 p.m. from the Chelmsford Arena.
(Photo of Mark Tassone courtesy of Jim Egan)
