Greyhounds say series is ‘far from over’
by Peter Ruicci (Independent Media) | Photo by Bob Davies
FULL PHOTO GALLERY | GAME HIGHLIGHTS
Unable to finish their scoring chances on Wednesday, the Soo Greyhounds margin for error became paper thin.
Noah Morneau scored twice – giving him seven in the playoffs – as the Windsor Spitfires stopped the Hounds 4-1 in front of 4,202 at GFL Memorial Gardens.
The setback, on a night when the Soo lost starting netminder Nolan Lalonde late in the opening period, gives the Spits a 3-1 advantage in the best-of-seven, Western Conference quarter-final.
“We’re in a tough spot, but I’ve seen us rally back before,” said veteran winger Justin Cloutier, whose club is slated to leave on Thursday in time for Friday’s fifth game (7:05 p.m.) at WFCU Centre. “We’re not thinking about anything other than one game, and how we have to win it.”
“Our backs are against the wall, but we know the series is far from over,” added forward Brady R. Smith, on a night when the Hounds fought hard, but were unable to match Windsor’s offensive prowess. “I still believe in our group. We’re determined to have a great game in Windsor, leave it all out there and bring the series back to the Sault.”
If the Hounds can force Game 6, it’s slated for Sunday at 7:07 p.m. at the Gardens. A seventh game, if needed, would be played next Tuesday in Windsor.
Head coach John Dean spoke of how his team’s motivation is to force the Spitfires “to travel back to the Sault. We want to bring the series back to our fans.”
The Hounds coach also talked about how he was “so proud of how we worked. I loved our fight right to the bitter end. But the puck didn’t bounce our way.”
Dean also said his team had enough scoring chances to win the game.
“We need to be ruthless in putting pucks in the back of the net,” added defenceman Spencer Evans, whose club has scored just six goals in regulation over the first four games.
Smith talked about the importance of getting more bodies in front of Spits goalie Joey Costanzo, who was a standout in Game 4.
“We just need to capitalize on our chances,” he added.
The Spitfires, who finished the regular season 34 points ahead of the Hounds, did exactly that when it mattered most.
Tied 1-1, Windsor took the lead for good at 16:07 of the second period. Liam Greentree fired from the top of the right circle and Landon Miller, who had replaced Lalonde, made the initial save. But Ilya Protas had lots of room to bang home the rebound.
Just 2:33 later, on the power play the Spitfires made it 3-1. From behind the net, Jack Nesbitt found Morneau all alone in front. Miller had no chance on the play.
On a night when the Spits held a 25-24 edge in shots, Protas added a late empty-netter to cap the scoring.
During what has been an injury-laden season for the Hounds, the loss of Lalonde, an overage, is particularly heart-wrenching.
With 2:42 remaining in the first period, Windsor’s Carter Hicks collided in front with Chase Reid and the Soo player, attempting to defend, wound up falling into Lalonde.
The Kingston, Ont., native was in obvious pain, leaving the ice with assistance from athletic therapist Julian Cooper and teammate Brady Martin.
Lalonde, who was favoring his left leg, didn’t return.
“I know it didn’t look very good,” Dean said of the injury after the game, while adding he had no idea as to the extent of the injury. “But when a guy can’t finish the game, it suggests he’ll probably be out for the next one.”
With that in mind, the Hounds are making arrangements to have goalie Noah Tegelaar join the club in Windsor.
Though he didn’t get a lot of help on the two Windsor goals, Miller played well in relief, stopping 12 of 14 shots.
“There’s a lot of belief in Landon in our room,” said Dean. “He was great tonight. He gave us a chance.”
Travis Hayes, on the redirection of a Keegan Gillen point shot, had the Soo’s lone goal. The Michigander’s third tally of the playoffs gave the Hounds a 1-0 lead at 15:01 of the opening frame.
But just 24 seconds later, Morneau grabbed a turnover in the neutral zone, made moves around two Soo defenders and fired from the left circle.
He beat Lalonde high to the glove side to make it 1-1.
The Spits were without five key skaters: Defencemen Anthony Cristoforo and Tnias Mathurin and forwards AJ Spellacy, Ethan Belchetz and J.C. Lemieux.
“This is one of our proudest moments of the year,” said head coach Greg Walters. “Our PK was great, we battled hard and blocked shots against a good hockey club. And Joey Costanzo was unbelievable.”
Morneau and Protas each contributed two goals and an assist for the winners. Greentree finished with a pair of assists.
Simply put, the Hounds “have to find a way to score in Game 5,” Dean said.
“In the history of hockey, a lot of series have been 3-1 and teams have come back,” Evans added. “We’ve faced a lot of adversity this year and we’re just going to take it game-by-game now.”
Notes:
Injured Greyhounds Hunter Solomon and Chris Brown didn’t play and remain day to day.
