Pilon brothers lead Thunderbirds past Express

NORTHERN ONTARIO JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE

NOJHL NETWORK MEDIA UPDATE

Release Date: Friday, Feb. 5, 2016

Pilon brothers lead Thunderbirds past Express

ESPANOLA, Ont. – The Soo Thunderbirds got a pair of goals from Darian Pilon along with another and two assists from his twin brother Drake to help lead the Soo Thunderbirds to a 5-1 victory over the Espanola Express Friday in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League match-up at the Regional Recreation Centre.

It was scoreless until the latter stages of the first period when Darian Pilon picked up his first of the night with at 16:49.

The power play helped Sault Ste. Marie add another near the 16-minute mark of the second as Drake Pilon notched the eventual game-winner.

A late Darian Pilon marker with 54 seconds left in the middle frame put the Thunderbirds up 3-0 after two.

Nathan Hebert’s ninth of the season put the visitors up by four 5:54 into the third while teammate Brandon Grandinetti’s second of 2015-16, via the man advantage, at 18:32 added to the T-Birds cushion.

Espanola would strike in the final moments dashing Soo netminder Connor Ryckman’s shutout bid with just 16.9 seconds left to account for the lone Express marker.

Ryckman finished with 19 saves in securing the win for the Thunderbirds.

Kevin Labelle was busy in goal for Espanola as he had 50 shots fired his way in defeat.

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