Columbus Blue Jackets Prospect Scores Goalie Goal & Starting To Heat Up Since Being Traded; Soo Greyhounds Win Important Game Over Flint

Goaltenders are unleashing their inner scorers and boldly chasing the empty net whenever the chance arises. We've witnessed yet another thrilling goalie goal this season in the OHL.

Soo Greyhounds goaltender and Columbus Blue Jackets prospect Nolan Lalonde nailed his attempt at the empty netter on Friday, Jan. 24, as his team skated by the Flint Firebirds to win an important Western Conference matchup.

Maybe the best part of a goaltender scoring is when they get to do the fly-by with their bench to celebrate. Look at how excited and happy the Greyhounds players were for their new teammate.

Sault Ste. Marie recently acquired Lalonde at the OHL's trade deadline in an influential move that saw 2004-born goalie Charlie Schenkel head to the Kingston Frontenacs.

Related: Kingston Makes Another Momentous Trade, Acquiring One Of The Top OHL Goaltenders From The Soo Greyhounds

The Blue Jackets prospect allowed six goals in his first start in a Greyhounds jersey — against his former team Kingston — and then lost to Guelph allowing three goals on 22 shots.

Since then, he's been 3-0, with a couple of shutouts and his first career goal. He was recently named the OHL's Goaltender of the Week.

This was a significant win for the Soo because of where they are in the Western Conference standings.

They were three points behind the Flint Firebirds for sixth place heading into Friday night's tilt. With their win, they moved within one point of Flint and Sarnia.

Finishing in eighth place is not what you want if you're in the West. Your likely matchup will be against the London Knights, who will probably go on to sweep you.

The Greyhounds aren't aiming for a long playoff run — evident in trading away Andrew Gibson and Charlie Schenkel — but for pride, they will want to play spoilers, and it's probably a good idea to avoid the reigning OHL champions.

Related: Are The Oshawa Generals Poised To Repeat As Eastern Conference Champions?

Sault Ste. Marie captain Caeden Carlisle opened the scoring with his first of the season, set up by NHL draft prospect Travis Hayes.

Hayes later set up fellow NHL draft prospect Brady Martin for his 16th of the year, as he helped poke the puck to spring him on a partial breakaway early into the second frame.

Greyhounds' Carson Andrew and Marco Mignosa each scored to put the Soo up with a commanding 4-0 lead.

Newly acquired Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Sam McCue extended his goal-scoring streak to three games and scored his fourth — 22nd on the year — since joining the Firebirds.

Related: Toronto Maple Leafs Prospect & OHL First-Rounder Involved In Significant OHL Trade Between Flint & Owen Sound

Alex Kostov potted home his 7th of the season to get Flint within two with under five minutes to play in the third, but then Lalonde sealed the deal with his empty-net tally.

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