Northern Wolves dump Skyhawks in OT

Northern Wolves goaltender Paul Pidutti makes a stop in the third period. The Wolves goalie kept his club in the game making 3 or 4 great saves in overtime. Photo by Chris Dawson.

The North Bay Skyhawks saw their series lead drop to one game Friday night after dropping a 5-4 overtime decision to the Sudbury Northern Wolves. Brian McGarry scored at 11:05 of overtime to give the Sudbury Northern Wolves a 5-4 comeback victory in game 3 of the best of 7 NOJHL Eastern Division semifinal.

Chris Abbey was left standing alone between the pipes all night allowing the Wolves top line to capitalize on all five goals.

“I believe Brian McGarry’s line really out played Perry and Frawley’s lines tonight,” said Sudbury’s coach Brain McGillis.

The Skyhawks took a two goal lead into the third but couldn’t hold on for the win and the commanding 3-0 series lead.

“It was our best game of the series so far,” said McGillis. “They’re a real good hockey team but we are becoming one as well.”

The Skyhawks opened the scoring in the first after Frank Desbiens beat Wolves net minder Paul Pidutti short side. With a man up, Wolves Brendan Biederman put the puck pass Chris Abbey to tie the game at one.

On the power play, Ontario Hockey League prospect Chris Pontes would counter at the 13:48 mark to regain the lead for the Skyhawks. Sticking with the theme of swapping goals Sudbury’s Jacques Proulx found the net late in the first to even the game after one frame.

During the second, Skyhawks roll players took advantage of a rare shift when Adam Cook was able to put, "the biscuit in the basket," and give the Skyhawks the lead and momentum after forty minutes.

Looking to deflate the Sudbury troops Matt Collins scored just 50 seconds into the third to give the Hawks a commanding two goal lead. However, that lead would slip back to one just minutes later as Jacques Proulx answered with his second of the night.

Sudbury now playing with jump for the first time in the series looked to tie the game at four and force overtime.

The Wolves were awarded at the 14:54 mark when Biederman tied the game at four. With five minutes left on the clock Biederman’s second goal came short handed on a beautiful individual effort.

Despite many quality Skyhawks scoring chances in overtime the Skyhawks were unable to light the lamp in the extra frame. Sudbury’s goalie Paul Pidutti was able to hold off the Hawks until McGarry beat Abbey upstairs at the 11:05 mark to complete the comeback.

“Offensively we played really good, but played poorly in the defense of zone,” said Coach Randy Edmonds. “We didn’t show enough respect for our opponent tonight and it brings us down to earth. But we will regroup and come out hard Sunday.”

The series will head back to Sudbury for game four on Sunday at Copper Cliff McClelland Arena. Sudbury looks to take advantage of home ice and even the series at two.


Story by Todd Vandonk