Late-game heroics by the Borderland Thunder left the Thunder Bay KC Bulldogs licking their wounded paws.
Kevin Webb’s goal with 1.2 seconds left in overtime gave the host Thunder a 6-5 victory Friday night, while a four-goal rally in the third period keyed a 4-2 win Saturday in Superior International Junior Hockey League (SIJHL) action.
“I think we dominated them throughout both games,” said Thunder head coach Dave Allison, whose team is on a seven-game winning streak. “The only thing wrong at certain times was what was on the scoreboard.”
Chad Baldwin, Matt Johnson, Josh McAndrew, Tyler Krzoska, and Ian Lockman also scored Friday night for the Thunder, who outshot the Bulldogs 57-22.
Ryden Echum, Chris King, Sean Warner, Brian Dzijak, and Rylan Vesa replied for the visitors.
The game was delayed 25 minutes after Krzoska’s second-period goal when, in the ensuing collision, Bulldog goalie and Fort Frances native Blake Carlson was knocked unconscious from a wayward knee to his neck, and had to be taken off the ice on a stretcher.
He suffered a concussion and pulled muscles in his neck, but was walking around in street clothes Saturday night. Carlson expected he would be ready to play this Friday and Saturday when the Thunder (8-0-2) head to Thunder Bay for a two-game rematch.
On Saturday night, after a Dzijak goal in the first, Jeff Moggy’s marker at 3:35 of the third staked the Bulldogs (4-4-0-1) to a 2-0 lead.
But the Thunder, who again owned the shots on goal category (51-22), were not to be denied as Johnson’s rebound 29 seconds later got his team on the board.
A.J. Tucker, who missed both games last week after having an ingrown toenail removed, added the tying goal 48 seconds after that, then stuffed home a wraparound at 10:16 for the Thunder’s first lead of the game.
McAndrew’s short-handed goal at 14:36 served as the insurance marker.
The Thunder’s next home games are Nov. 1-2 against the Nipigon Feathermen Hawks.
