Photo Credit: Freeze Frame Photos
Facing elimination pressure after dropping the first two games on the road, the Soo Eagles returned home to Pullar Stadium in Sault Ste Marie, Michigan on Monday, April 6th, looking to climb back into their best-of-seven semi-final series against the Greater Sudbury Cubs. However, despite a hard-fought effort, the Cubs came away with a 6-3 victory to take a commanding 3-0 series lead.
The Eagles came out with urgency in the opening period and were rewarded midway through the frame. At 13:58, Anden Marceau netted his fourth goal of the playoffs on the powerplay to give the Eagles a 1-0 lead, with assists going to Samuel Gold and Coulson Bell. The goal energized the home crowd and gave Sault Ste. Marie an early edge heading into the intermission.
The second period saw momentum swing back and forth between the two clubs. The Cubs evened the score at 9:10 on a powerplay marker from Owen King, his fourth of the postseason, assisted by Spencer Horgan and Briir Long. The Eagles responded just minutes later, as Nolan Nemecek restored the lead at 12:59 with his fourth of the playoffs, finishing off an unassisted effort to make it 2-1.
Sudbury answered quickly once again, as team captain Daks Klinkhammer tied the game 2-2 at 14:07, picking up his sixth goal of the playoffs with helpers from Spencer Horgan and Owen King, setting up a pivotal third period.
The Cubs wasted little time seizing control in the final frame. Just 49 seconds in, Mason Walker struck on the powerplay for his eighth goal of the playoffs, giving Sudbury a 3-2 lead. Spencer Horgan and Owen King each recorded assists on the go-ahead tally.
The Eagles showed resilience, tying the game at 3-3 at 3:16 when Coulson Bell scored his second of the postseason, with Colton Huckson and Ethan Hoff picking up the assists.
From there, the Cubs took over. Alex Valade regained the lead for Sudbury at 9:10, scoring his fourth of the playoffs off feeds from Owen King and Daks Klinkhammer. Just over a minute later, at 10:30, Kaedyn Long extended the lead to 5-3 with his third of the playoffs, assisted by Nate Lazarus and Cole Wreggitt.
With the Eagles pushing late, Klinkhammer sealed the victory with an empty-net goal at 18:34—his second of the game and seventh of the playoffs—putting the game out of reach at 6-3.
In goal, Iain Wintle was solid for the Cubs, turning aside 38 of 41 shots to backstop the Game Three win. At the other end, Jace Knoerle made 35 saves on 40 shots in a strong effort despite the loss.
With the win, the Cubs now hold a 3-0 series advantage and sit one victory away from advancing. The Eagles will look to extend their season in Game Four, set for Tuesday, April 7th with a 7:00 p.m. puck drop back at Pullar Stadium in Sault Ste Marie, Michigan.
