DRAMATIC COMEBACK WIN

BEV 6
THU 7
>>>
Thunder Bay, ON- With the drama of the trade deadline complete, the Thunder Bay Timberwolves were set for a showdown with the Beverly Hills Lawmasters at the Canadian National Gardens before another sellout crowd.
>>>Newly acquired winger, Antti Miettinen began his Timberwolves career on the third line with TJ Oshie (pictured), centered by Mike Fisher.
>>>Before some fans had settled into their seats, the Lawmasters struck first with Teemu Selanne's 15th of the season at 00:40.
>>>Denis Grebeshkov would score two more to put the visitors up 3-0 by 12:23 in the first.
>>>Timeout was called by Craig Hartsburg before the ensuing faceoff.
>>>"To say we weren't set at the drop of the puck would be putting it mildly," said Timberwolves defenseman Sheldon Souray. "The timeout was definately needed just to get our bearings."
>>>At 14:36, Patrick Sharp began righting the ship by scoring his 12th from Matt Niskanen and Oshie. With thirty-five seconds left in opening period, Sharp would draw blood again to pull the Timberwolves within one going into the intermission. Assists came from Miettinen and and Niskanen. Miettinen's first point as a member of his new club.
>>>"Scoring late in periods is always a good thing for moral," said Mike Fisher. "You want the momentum more than anything before going into the room."
>>>The momentum was not maintained, and Beverly Hills began pulling away at 5:37 into the second with a tally from Mark Recchi.
>>>At 15:27, Dany Heatley completed the answer to Thunder Bay's first period goals, by scoring his 47th to put the Lawmasters up 5-2.
>>>Marian Gaborik struck back and weaved through the offensive zone, and sniping a wrist shot over the shoulder of a down Mikka Kiprusoff at 18:19.
>>>Evgeni Malkin tried to hammer in the last nail in the coffin at 19:16 by putting Beverly Hills up 6-3.
>>>Mike Fisher would have non of that, and scored his 6th of the season at 19:40. Again, taking the momentum into the room.
>>>"Absolutely essential," said Patrick Sharp. "We're already down. We need something to build on. Malkin's goal took the wind out of the sails a bit. But we never let up."
>>>The third period belonged to Thunder Bay. In front of 19,434, the Timberwolves took to the ice in front of a playoff-like, raucus crowd. They would not be disappointed.
>>>Fifty-five seconds in, Mathieu Schneider took a two-handed whack on the arm of Marian Gaborik. A frustrated Schneider sat for two. Gaborik was not injured.
>>>At 1:42, Bryan Little finished off what was the most amazing display of stickwork one might see in their lifetime from David Perron and Ales Hemsky. Little's 27th in his rookie season.
>>>At 6:14, TJ Oshie took a feed from Niskanen and Jay McKee. Taking the Timberwolves from the brink and tying the game.
>>>For much of the remainder of the game, both teams tightened up defensively and limited the offensive chances. Overtime of eminant.
>>>But on one final drive, Souray setup a streaking Antti Miettinen who went 2-on-1 with Oshie in on Kiprusoff. The Lawmasters' keeper let his defense take the pass and he setup on who he thought was the shooter--Miettinen. He was wrong, and Miettinen paid for the fourth rounder to acquire him with a saucer pass over the defenders stick and on the tape of Oshie's. Who one-timed it into a near open net at 19:52.
>>>The eight seconds were enough to hold for the dramatic win. Putting the the Timberwolves over the .500 mark for the first time in a long time (30-29-3).
>>>
>>>3-STARS
>>>***Denis Grebeshkov (BEV) - 2 goals and an assist
>>>**Antti Miettinen (THU) - 2 assists
>>>*TJ Oshie (THU) - Game-tying and Game-winning goals and 2 assists
>>>
>>>Next Game: Monday - At Wisborg (20-37-5)