THUNDER BAY – The Wisconsin Lumberjacks didn’t have much success against the Thunder Bay North Stars in the regular season.
They sure gave them a scare in their playoff opener.
The Lumberjacks roared back from a 4-1 deficit in the second period, scoring three times in a three-and-a-half minute span on Friday night at Fort William Gardens.
The comeback wasn’t quite enough, however.
Maxwell Buffone scored what proved to the be game-winner with 7:55 to go in regulation and Beau Helmeczi added an insurance marker into the empty net and the North Stars eked out a 6-4 win in Game 1 of their best-of-seven SIJHL opening round series.
It was Helmeczi’s second of the night, the first coming late in the first, the goal giving the host North Stars a 3-1 lead at the time.
Tyler Jordan an Easton Mikus also scored in the first for Thunder Bay and Drew Caddo upper the Thunder Bay lea to three with his first of the playoffs 12:20 into the second.
That’s when things started to unravel for the home side.
Marshall Thomas closed the gap to 4-2 at 14:57. Fifty-nine seconds later Nolan Fowler mae ity 4-3 and, with 1:39 to go in the middle stanza, Sutton Majeske evened the match.
Keenan Marks picked up the win between the pipes for Thunder Bay, while William Forrester allowed five of the six North Stars goals and was saddled with the loss.
Game 2 is scheduled for Saturday night at the Gardens.
