After playing nine straight games decided by two goals or less and winning six of them, the Greater Sudbury Cubs were more than willing to tackle a somewhat more relaxed atmosphere Thursday night at the Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex.

The NOJHL West Division leaders were up just 1-0 after 20 minutes of play with the Soo Eagles last night but broke the contest wide open in the middle stanza, taking a 5-1 lead into period three en route to a 7-1 win.

The big guns were 'a blazing in this encounter as Oliver Smith, Nolan Newton and Ethan Larmand netted two goals each, with defenceman Brock Houser recording the remaining tally with a seeing-eye shot from the point.

Only Cooper Fredericks managed to solve Sudbury netminder Noah Beaulne as the Valley East native turned in a strong performance despite benefitting from a comfortable lead, stopping 26 of the 27 shots that he faced.

Hudson Chitaroni (3A) and Hudson Martin and Ben Lacroix, with two assists each, also enjoyed multi-point outings.

In a contest that featured nothing but minor or double minor penalties, the Cubs and Eagles split 28 minutes in penalties right down the middle.

Coach Darryl Moxam and company are back in action Saturday night on the road, facing the Powassan Voodoos and looking to hold on to their two-point lead in the standings over the Blind River Beavers.

The Cubs return to Countryside next Thursday as Powassan makes the return trip west as the locals hope to return some of their walking wounded, with affiliates Brett Moxam and Nate Lazarus both called up for the match-up with the Eagles.