Thunderbirds remain unbeaten in playoffs, push Eagles to brink of elimination (4 photos)

The Soo Thunderbirds remain unbeaten in the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League playoffs are stand one win away from a berth in the league final.

The team opened up a 3-0 lead and beat the Soo (Mich.) Eagles 4-1 at Pullar Stadium in the Michigan Sault to take a 3-0 series lead in their NOJHL West Division final series.

The win also extends the Thunderbirds winning streak to 25 games in the process.

The Thunderbirds got on the board 34 seconds in when Cooper Foster skated into the slot and took a pass from Kelsey Ouellet on the left wing and beat Eagles starter Ryan Gilmore stick side.

Michael Chaffay extended the lead late in the period when he beat Gilmore with a shot from the left circle glove side through an Eagles defenceman at 15:47.

Chaffay picked up his second of the night early in the second period, beating Gilmore with a shot from the bottom of the right circle to make it 3-0 at 3:32.

The Eagles got on the board with 3:58 to go in the middle period when Sam Holy’s point shot was partially blocked in the slot and deflected to Zach Briskey in the left circle, who beat Thunderbirds goaltender Noah Zeppa.

Chaffay scored his third of the night with 4:15 to go in regulation time when he beat Gilmore with a shot from the bottom of the left circle high short side.

In addition to Chaffay’s three-point performance, Foster and Ouellet each had two-point nights for the Thunderbirds. Foster chipped in with a goal and an assist while Ouellet assisted on two goals.

Zeppa made 24 saves for the Thunderbirds while Gilmore stopped 26 shots for the Eagles.

Game four is scheduled for Saturday night at Pullar Stadium as the Eagles look to fend off elimination.

If necessary, game five is scheduled for Monday night at the John Rhodes Community Centre in Sault, Ont.