THIEF RIVER FALLS, Minn. – Brandon Bodnar made 22 saves, including a couple from point-blank range, to backstop the Thunder Bay North Stars to a 2-0 victory over the Thief River Falls Norskies Wednesday in Game 2 of their Superior International Junior Hockey League semifinal series at Ralph Engelstad Arena.
The series is now tied 1-1 as it shifts to the Fort William Gardens for Game 3 Saturday at 8 p.m.
After a scoreless first period, a Jake Behse point blast put Thunder Bay in front 5:12 into the middle stanza.
It stayed 1-0 for the visitors into the third where the North Stars added some insurance after breaking out on a two-on-one where Brad Thrower held on to the puck long enough to make a quick cross-crease pass to a charging Turner Santin who was left with a tap-in at 8:25.
Bodnar did the rest to post the shutout for his side and even the series at a win apiece.
Thief River Falls goaltender Bailey Schmitz faced 36 shots in defeat for the Norskies.
All SIJHL postseason games are streamed live and on demand at HockeyTV.com.
SIJHL Playoffs
Series D
Semifinal series
No. 2 Thief River Falls Norskies vs. No. 3 Thunder Bay North Stars
Best-of-seven series tied 1-1
Game 1: Thief River Falls 2 Thunder Bay 1
Game 2: Thunder Bay 2 Thief River Falls 0
Game 3: Saturday, April 7 @ Thunder Bay 8 p.m. ET (Fort William Gardens)
Game 4: Sunday, April 8 @ Thunder Bay 7:30 p.m. ET (Fort William Gardens)
Game 5: Monday, April 9 @ Thief River Falls 7 p.m. CT (Ralph Engelstad Arena)
Game 6*: Wednesday, April 11 @ Thunder Bay 7:30 p.m. ET (Fort William Gardens)
Game 7*: Thursday, April 12 @ Thief River Falls 7 p.m. CT (Ralph Engelstad Arena)
*- if necessary
Photo credit: Allison Garrigan