RED LAKE, Ont. --- The Thunder Bay North Stars are on the brink of moving on to Round 2 of the Superior International Junior Hockey League playoffs.
Nolan Desjardins scored a pair of third-period goals on Tuesday night to help the visiting North Stars break open a one-goal contest, and Thunder Bay went on to down the host Red Lake Miners 6-2 in Game 4 of their best-of-seven series.
Thunder Bay now leads the Miners three games to one and can wrap up the opening round series on Thursday night in the friendly confines of Fort William Gardens.
Jamie Fuchs, Easton Glousher, E.J. Paddington and Edison Weeks also scored for Thunder Bay, who led 3-2 after 40 minutes.
Keenan Marks, making his first appearance of the postseason, earned the win between the pipes for the North Stars, while Trent Boryszczuk took the loss, leaving the game after Paddington’s goal with 2:46 to play in the second.
Paddington was later tossed for a fight with Red Lake’s Luke Decorby.
Ty Woodard, who opened the scoring on the power play at 13:48 of the first, and Colton Crysler, with his first of the playoffs, scored for the defending champion Miners, who now need to win three straight to move on.
Game time Thursday night is 7:30 p.m.
Wisconsin 4, Sioux Lookout 2: The host Lumberjacks assured they won't be swept out of the first round, scoring twice in the second and twice in the third to double up the expansion Bombers. Dillon Phillips scored the game-winner at 18:46 of the third, with Salvatore Poggiali icing it with 10 seconds to play, scoring into the empty net. The Bombers, who got goals from Blake Burke and Tegan Neuman, will look to get back to winning hockey on Friday night on the road.
