All aboard, as Hounds win Friday at home
Story by soogreyhounds.com | Photo courtesy of James Egan Photography | Post-game audio provided by Brad Coccimiglio (Sootoday.com)
SAULT STE. MARIE, ON-
Over the last month and a half the losses at home had mounted on home ice. Seven-in-a-row to be exact.
But on Friday Night the Soo Greyhounds exploded in the third period with five of their six goals to rebound in the confines at the Essar Centre and put an exclamation point on their season series against the Flint Firebirds.
“Very important. You could see our confidence in the third period when things started to go our way and how we were generating offense you could see our confidence kind of grow and grow and grow” stated Hounds Head Coach Drew Bannister when asked about the importance of the win at home.
“Certainly after the game in the dressing room the guys they feel good about themselves and that’s certainly what you want from your group” he added.
The first period saw the games most stoppages and changes in puck possession but it was near the end that the play was most notable.
With just over a minute to play, Hounds netminder JOSEPH RAAYMAKERS kept the game scoreless turning aside four Flint attempts in sequence heading into the dressing room.
The two teams traded a combined three powerplays in the second period, but again it was the late stages that perhaps had the most effect on the scoreboard.
With around six minutes to go in the second period, RAAYMAKERS made a sliding save moving left to right while staying with Will Bitten who was all alone.
“I thought he was great, he played fantastic. It was a good bounce back game for him. I’m real disappointed that the one at the end happened. Overall he was very good for us” stated Bannister when speaking of his goaltender.
At the other end, and 2:48 to go, BOBBY MACINTYRE broke in shorthanded after picking up the puck in neutral ice but was stopped by the glove of Matthew Menna.
The Hounds would open the scoring with under two minutes to play in the period.
BOBBY MACINTYRE made the toe drag move to the net and took the first shot before HAYDEN VERBEEK deposited the rebound for his 14th goal of the season, and the 1-0 Greyhounds lead after two periods.
JACK KOPACKA had the lone assist that came on the Hounds 17th shot of the game.
In the third period the Hounds exploded for five more goals, and from the coach’s perspective, details of their game attributed to that.
“In the third period, we generated a lot more, we were holding onto the puck in the offensive zone, we weren’t throwing it away off the rush, we were delaying low and our D was a lot more active to generate chances for us” said Bannister.
GUSTAV BOURAMMAN made it a 2-0 lead at 3:49 of the third period releasing a shot that seemed to bounce it’s way through a crowd for the two goal cushion.
The lead climbed to three when MORGAN FROST was standing at the goal and received a pas from TIM GETTINGER before firing it low to make it 3-0.
Then the Hounds would tally three of their five consecutive in the period, all in a span of just under five minutes.
Solid puck movement was finished off by BLAKE SPEERS’s 24th of the season at 11:03, now sitting the Hounds at a 4-0 advantage.
BOBBY MACINTYRE (powerplay) one-timed home a behind the back pass by GABE GUERTLER at 15:12 for his 20th goal of the year before JACK KOPACKA (16:00) put up his 20th of the season as well just forty-eight seconds later as he put his slick hands to work and moved off the boards before firing low for a 6-0 Greyhound lead.
The only bleamish to affect JOSEPH RAAYMAKERS night came with 2:30 to play when the puck appeared to bounce awkwardly off the stanchion in the Firebirds zone, bounce up ice and ultimately result in a 2-on-0 that was capped off with Luke Kirwan spoiling the shutout bid.
“I think everyone played really well tonight. There were no passengers tonight. Sometimes it’s hard, you’re playing a team that has nothing to lose really and that can be dangerous, extremely dangerous” continued Bannister.
“I’m happy with the urgency we had in the game especially when it was tight, even one or two nothing, and we came out in the second and kind of took over the game. I’m really happened how we responded that way” he concluded.
The victory marked the Hounds 32nd win of the season, and combined with Owen Sounds victory over Guelph, positions the Hounds to meet the Sarnia Sting in the first round of the OHL Playoffs.
(Full schedule further in the story).
ATTENDANCE – 3,976
RED STAR THREE STARS OF THE GAME
1- Joseph Raaymakers, SSM
2- Bobby MacIntyre, SSM
3- Hayden Verbeek, SSM
Stats courtesy of the ontariohockeyleague.com
BOXSCORE RECAP | PLAY-BY-PLAY RECAP
UP NEXT;
The Greyhounds conclude their regular season schedule this coming SUNDAY AFTERNOON (Mar. 20) when they play host to the Guelph Storm.
Game time is 2:07 p.m. and is presented by Algoma Public Health and Brain Injury Association Sault Ste. Marie.
Fans are asked to be in their seats by 1:45 p.m. and join us as the organization pays tribute to goaltender BRANDON HALVERSON and overage players GABE GUERTLER and TYLER HORE.
There will be a pre-game video shown and on-ice ceremony including the player’s parents and billet parents.
Great tickets are still available at the Essar Centre Box Office (Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. through game time), online at www.essarcentre.ca or by phone at 1.866.775.9422.
Can’t make it to the game?
Fans can hear all the action beginning with the Bay Mills Resort & Casino’s pre-game show on Rock 101 (101.3 FM, www.rock101.net) beginning at 1:37 p.m.
This game will also be simulcast on Oldies 93 (93.9 FM)
FIRST ROUND PLAYOFF DATES ANNOUNCED
Sarnia Sting (2) vs Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (7)
Game 1 – Friday, March 25; SSM @ SAR, 7:05 p.m.
Game 2 – Sunday, March 27; SSM @ SAR, 4:05 p.m.
Game 3 – Tuesday, March 29; SAR @ SSM, 7:07 p.m.
Game 4 – Thursday, March 31; SAR @ SSM, 7:07 p.m.
Game 5* – Saturday, April 2; SSM @ SAR, 7:05 p.m.
Game 6* – Sunday, April 3; SAR @ SSM, 7:07 p.m.
Game 7* – Tuesday, April 5; SSM @ SAR, 7:05 p.m.
* denotes “if necessary”
