By Gary Moskalyk
Thunder Bay, ON – Alex Remenda had two goals and an assist, Tyler Jordan and Easton Mikus sniped a pair each, Edison Weeks had a goal and three assists, and Ben Laurette made 38 saves as the North Stars defeated Wisconsin 9-0 in game two to take a 2-0 series lead over the Lumberjacks. Connor Larrett had a goal and helper, and EJ Paddington and Cameron Dial had a pair of assists to aid the offence.
Shots were surprisingly close. Thunder Bay had 42 shots against William Forrester, who surrendered all nine in his second loss of the series.
Thunder Bay took a 2-0 lead after one, scored four in the second and added three more in the third. Laurette’s biggest test, other than Ryan Kayser ringing one off the post in the first period, came with six seconds left on the clock. The Lumberjacks swarmed the North Stars’ net. The puck scooted past the near post and somehow stayed out, preserving Laurette’s shutout bid in a mad scramble.
Easton Mikus opened the scoring 19 seconds in, and Jordan doubled the lead 1:46 later. In the second, Beau Helmeczi, Larrett, Weeks, and Jordan all counted. Jordan’s second goal of the game and third of the playoffs was on a Thunder Bay powerplay. Larrett and Weeks struck just 22 seconds apart at 12:17 and 12:39.
Mikus got his second of the game and third of the playoffs on a Thunder Bay powerplay at 1:51 of the third. Remenda got his first of two, shorthanded, on a feed from Weeks. Remenda rounded out the scoring at 14:36. Weeks collected the primary assists on both efforts. Thunder Bay had to kill off three minor penalties in the last 4:27 to keep the zero intact.
The Stars were 2-3 on the powerplay while killing off six Wisconsin powerplays. Thunder Bay took 22 of the 37 penalty minutes assessed.
Dillon Phillips, who was rocked in game one and had to leave the ice and not return, was back in the line-up in game two.
Weather permitting, games three and four are Monday and Tuesday at Rice Lake Arena.
A total of 467 fans attended Saturday’s game.