Allard leads Hounds to third straight
by Peter Ruicci (Independent Media) | Photo courtesy of Madison Mynerich-Bookless (Sudbury Wolves)
Technically, mathematically, even historically, it’s too early to say the Soo Greyhounds have clinched a 2024-25, Western Conference playoff spot.
But in their final road game of the regular season on Wednesday, the Hounds took another big step in that direction.
Owen Allard’s goal at 11:31 of the third period broke a 2-2 tie and, backed by the standout goaltending of Nolan Lalonde, the Soo secured a 3-2 victory over the Sudbury Wolves in front of 3,461 at Sudbury Community Arena.
With their third consecutive victory, the Hounds moved three points ahead of both Sarnia and Owen Sound – and the Soo holds the first tie-breaker over both – heading into the final weekend of the regular season.
“It’s definitely an exciting feeling,” Allard said of the winning goal, his 14th in just 30 games this season. “It was a great play by Cloutier to get it to me, and I’m just happy that one went in.”
“Pretty impressive, in my opinion,” head coach John Dean said of his team’s ability to again find a way to win. “We keep asking so much of these guys. It’s physically and emotionally taxing when you’re fighting for your life every night.”
With the win, the Soo improved to 27-35-2-2 record, good for 58 points with two games remaining.
Owen Sound (24-34-4-3) and Sarnia (21-31-6-7) have 55 points each. Both the Attack and Sting have three games to play.
“This is one heck of a team to coach,” added Dean, whose club is set to play host to Saginaw on Friday (7:07 p.m.) and Sarnia on Sunday (2:07 p.m.) in the regular season finale. “They continue to do an incredible job, and I’m having an absolute blast.”
Owen Sound has remaining road games left against Barrie, on Thursday, and Kitchener, on Friday, before playing host to Guelph on Saturday.
Besides visiting the Soo on Sunday, the Sting plays at Windsor on Thursday and is home to Flint on Friday.
The first tie-breaker is regulation and overtime wins combined. The Soo has 25, Owen Sound has 22 and Sarnia just 19.
If there’s a tie for eighth place between two rivals, a one-game playoff would be staged next Tuesday.
And, suddenly, the Hounds have an outside shot at sixth place. They’re three points back of Flint, with the Firebirds also having 25 regulation/OT wins.
With 61 points, Flint (28-32-2-3) needs just a single point in its final three games to clinch a playoff berth. Two points would make sure they finish ahead of the Hounds.
The Firebirds are at Sarnia on Friday, they’re home to Saginaw on Saturday and visit Saginaw in Sunday’s season finale.
With the score tied 2-2 in the third, Cloutier drove the play down the ice, pulled up along the left-wing boards and found Allard at the top of the left circle.
The overage snapped a quick shot that beat Wolves netminder Nate Krawchuk high to the glove side.
“Since coming back from injury, I’d like to be scoring more,” Allard said. “But I haven’t really been getting that puck luck. Cloutier sucked some guys in down the left side and then found me. I pulled it around the defender and let it fly.”
Allard called it a “great play” by Cloutier.
Dean was also full of praise.
“Cloutier did an unbelievable job. He lugged the puck 130 feet,” the coach added. “Al doesn’t stickhandle, he just puts it in the net. And that’s the final dagger for us.”
On a night when the Soo held a 36-29 edge in shots, Dean also credited Lalonde.
“He was the best player on the ice. He calmed down the chaos,” the coach added. “We gave up some massive Grade As and he handled them with poise.”
Dean admitted the Hounds weren’t overly sharp. He spoke of how his club mismanaged the puck too often.
But he liked how his players stuck to it and how “we were scrappy.”
“Everyone is super-close right now,” said winger Travis Hayes who contributed a power-play goal and an assist. “Winning does that, 100 per cent. It puts everyone in a good mood and gets everyone closer.”
The Hounds got caught up ice on Sudbury’s first goal. On a 3-on-2, Chase Coughlan scored low on the stick side at 5:26 of the opening period.
The Soo tied the game early in the second when Brady Martin fired from the left circle, beating Krawchuk high to the glove side for his 31st goal.
With the Soo on a man advantage, Hayes beat the Wolves goalie high to the blocker side with a well-placed shot from the right dot. The goal, at 12:46 of the second, was No. 20 for the second-year winger.
Greg Najda, with his first career goal, beat Lalonde on a rebound attempt at 1:59 of the third. Sault native Luca Blonda drew an assist on the goal that tied it 2-2.
That set the stage for Allard’s winner.
“We look like a more confident group,” said Dean, when asked to compare how his club is playing today to how it fared a few weeks ago. “I no longer have to calm the group down on the bench. I no longer have to articulate what’s important over the final 10 minutes.”
Asked about his club’s renewed confidence, Hayes spoke of the belief the Hounds now possess.
“One-hundred percent, we go into every game now expecting to win,” he said. “It’s fun.”
“We just want to continue that momentum,” added Allard. “We’re trying to clean up all the details before playoffs.”
