Miners end losing streak; defeat Norsemen

CANADIAN PRESS (Minneapolis, MN)

The streak is over. 

Jesper Fast scored the go-ahead goal late in the third period as the Sudbury Miners beat the Minnesota Norsemen 2-1 on Sunday night. 

Philip Danault also scored for Sudbury, which had lost eight straight prior to last night’s contest.  Rookie Aaron Dell made 43 saves in the Miners net to notch his first career CCHL victory.

The goal was Fast’s first of the season and it could not have come at a better time for Fast and the Miners.  The much-maligned winger has been having a rough time adjusting to life in the Nickel Belt.

"It feels great, obviously," Fast said. "It’s nice to get that gorilla, not monkey off my back.  But I have to tip my hat to the guys in that locker room.  They all played great and we deserved the win"

The Norsemen took a 1-0 lead at 15:26 left into the first period, when Anders Lee poked the puck away from Miners winger Anthony Duclair, skated past Chris Wideman and beat Miners goalie Aaron Dell with a shot in the upper left corner for his twelfth goal of the year.

The Miners would tie the game late in the second period, on the power play, with Norsemen defenseman Adam McQuaid in the box for a slashing minor.  After Norseman goalie Devan Dubynk had stopped Radim Vrbata's attempt and fell on his back with traffic around the net, Danault slid the puck past the scrum in front to make it 1-1 with 1:48 left in the period.

The Norsemen outshot the Miners 44-26 on the night and two teams would remain tied until late in the third when Fast popped the game-winner past Dubynk. 


MINERS NUGGETS

- Despite scoring, the Miners power play continues to sit last overall in the CCHL.  Last night’s goal was only their sixth with the man advantage this year.

- Defenseman Darnell Nurse continues his rehab in Sudbury and is progressing nicely.  He was seen skating at the Vale Centre on Sunday morning but is still a couple of weeks from returning.

- The Miners will try to make it two wins in a row when they return home on Tuesday night to take on the Las Vegas Aces.  Game time at the Vale Centre is 7:30pm.