RED LAKE, Ont. – The Thunder Bay North Stars are back in the driver’s seat in the Bill Salonen Cup final.
After spotting the host Red Lake Miners a 1-0 lead on Wednesday night, the Stars scored three straight to close out the first period and went on to a 4-2 Game 3 triumph that gave the Stars a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven championship series.
Michael Stubbs and Josh Bryan had two goals apiece for Thunder Bay, who took their first series lead in downing the Miners for a second straight contest.
Morgan Venne and Matt Krawiec replied for Red Lake, who have been outscored 9-4 since opening the final with a 6-1 win.
"You can't put Thunder Bay on the power play like we did in the first period. You're asking for trouble, especially a 5-on-3. It turned out to be the big difference in the game. You lose 4-2, but I think you played generally well throughout the game in spurts, but when you let them get three power-play goals in the first period, you're chasing the game the rest of the way," said Miners coach Derek Sweet-Coulter.
Stubbs' first of the night, at 12:40 of the opening period, came with two Red Lake players in the box.
Brock Aiken got the start in net for Thunder Bay and stopped 29 of 31 shots. Zach Willms was between the pipes for the Miners, making 40 stops on 44 shots.
Game 4 is Thursday night at Cochenour Arena. Game 5 is slated for Fort William Gardens on Saturday night.
