THUNDER BAY – Sometimes it’s not how smooth the journey goes, but simply getting to your destination in one piece.
That’s essentially how the Thunder Bay North Stars felt on Monday as they opened their best-of-five opening round Superior International Junior Hockey League playoff series at Fort William Gardens against the cellar-dwelling Minnesota Iron Rangers.
The Stars twice spotted their opponent a one-goal lead, but managed to rally from behind on both occasions and skated away with a 6-4 triumph.
It wasn't how the North Stars drew it up, but they’ll take it said rookie forward Keighan Gerrie, who scored twice and added a helper.
Twice the Iron Rangers scored in the opening minute of a period, Eli Kinsman beating Brandon Bodnar 26 seconds after the opening faceoff and again 29 seconds into the middle stanza.
“We had to get our feet going right from there. We knew it was going to be a battle from start to finish and after the first intermission coach gave us a good pep talk and we really started coming together,” said Gerrie, who had 24 goals and 51 points as a freshman in 2017-18.
It was a valuable lesson..
“For sure, it’s pretty much a new season now. Both teams are 0-0 at the start of the game. Anything can happen in the playoffs. A couple lucky bounces could change a whole series.”
First-year coach Rob DeGagne said he’s going to stress a better start when the two teams take to the ice on Tuesday night for Game 2.
There’s still some work to do.
“I’d be lying to you if I said everything is all-right,” DeGagne said.
“I’m not sure why they’re flat. A couple of guys have the flu a little bit, but it’s not an excuse. They know it’s playoffs. They’ve worked so hard to get there and they played so well since Christmastime."
“The last two games it looks like they don’t have any gas in the tank, for whatever reason. But they’ll find out quick they’ve got to work and pour the gas on or it will be a short series.”
One positive was the shot count, Thunder Bay out-gunning Minnesota 59-30.
Tyler Thompson stood tall in the early going between the pipes for the Iron Rangers, but Gerrie managed to put one past him to tie the game 1-1 with 3:56 to go in the first. Brandon Gillis took a goal-mouth feed from Gerrie off a turnover and ripped it into the Iron Rangers net for a 2-1 Thunder Bay lead.
It stood for just over a minute, Kinsman out-waiting Bodnar on a break and connecting on a backhand to even the score 2-2.
Koivunen, who matched Kinsman with two goals, made it 3-2 at the 4:29 mark, streaking toward Bodnar from the corner and sliding in a backhand between Bodnar’s feet. After Gerrie tied it, Troy Sherman took advantage of a turnover in the Minnesota zone and roofed a backhander of his own to put the Stars in front again.
Once more the lead wasn’t safe, Koivunen connecting with five seconds left on a two-man advantage to tie the game at four.
Kyle Auger won it in the third, the Thunder Bay defenceman pouncing on an Owen Belisle rebound that put the Stars in front for good. Siau added an empty netter in the final minute.
Star gazing: The Stars are still without captain Joe Newhouse (knee, head). He’s not expected back before Game 3 at the earliest.
FIRST PERIOD
Scoring: Minnesota, Kinsman 1 (unassisted) 0:26. 2. Thunder Bay, Gerrie 1 (Siau) 16:56. 3. Thunder Bay, Gillis 1 (Gerrie) 19:07. Penalties: Nagy MIN (high stricking) 2:33, Colstrup MIN, Santin TB (interference) 12:11.
SECOND PERIOD
Scoring: 4. Minnesota, Kinsman 2 (Nagy) 0:29. 5. Minnesota, Koivunen 1 (Hendrickson) 4:29. 6. Thunder Bay, Gerrie 2 (Siau, Maticic) 9:28. 7. Thunder Bay, Sherman 1 (Auger) 14:15. 8. Minnesota, Koivunen 2 (Kinsman, Litke) 16:20 pp. Penalties: Butler MIN (interference) 1:06, Colstrup MIN, Siau TB (unsportsmanlike conduct) 9:28, Smith TB (slashing) 14:25, Thrower TB (tripping) 15:18, Thompson MIN (high sticking, served by Engdahl) 17:27, Santin TB (slashing) 18:55.
THIRD PERIOD
Scoring: 9. Thunder Bay, Auger 1 (Mignault, Belisle) 2:54. 10. Thunder Bay, Siau 1 (unassisted) 19:28 en. Penalties: Beltrane MIN (high sticking) 17:17.
GAME DATA – SOG – Minnesota 11-9-10-30, Thunder Bay 21-18-20-59; Power plays (goals-chances) – Minnesota (1-3), Thunder Bay (0-4); Goaltenders – Minnesota: Tyler Thompson, Thunder Bay: Brandon Bodnar; A: 388.
