Hounds determined to hone their game — and win — in Flint

by Peter Ruicci (Independent Media) | Photo by Bob Davies

They don’t mean anything in the standings.

But that’s not to say the Soo Greyhounds aren’t placing a high priority on this weekend’s games in Flint.

If you’ve followed the comments of head coach John Dean over the last two weeks, you know he has a plan for games Friday and Saturday (both at 7 p.m.) at Dort Financial Center.

“We want to be consistent,” said Dean, who has spoken often about how, regardless of the standings or first-round opponent, the Hounds need to get themselves ready for next week’s start of the Ontario Hockey League playoffs.

The games in Flint mark the end of the regular season for both the Greyhounds (38-21-6-1), who are locked into fourth place in the Western Conference, and Firebirds (41-20-1-4), who have clinched third place.

“We want to see guys understand what they have to do to get paid and what makes us successful,” Dean continued. “When we do that, we think we’re capable of beating every single team in the league.”

“The games are meaningful in the sense we have to clean up some stuff and get ready for playoffs,” said winger Cole MacKay, who scored his 27^th goal and added an assist in Wednesday’s 6-4 win over Sudbury at GFL Memorial Gardens. “If we prepare like professionals over these games and stay on the track we’re on, we’ll be ready for Thursday of next week.”

That’s when the Hounds are slated to open the playoffs at home against the No. 5 seed, either Guelph (34-24-5-3) or Owen Sound (33-26-5-3). Game 2 in the best-of-seven conference quarter-final is set for a week from Saturday, also in the Sault. Once the Hounds opponent is determined, the OHL is expected to put its stamp of approval on the first-round schedule.

In order to secure fifth place, the Storm needs just one point over its final two games – against Kitchener, on Friday, or Windsor, on Saturday. For Owen Sound to finish fifth and face the Hounds in Round 1, the Attack must beat Kitchener on Saturday in its season finale, while Guelph loses both of its remaining games in regulation. Such a scenario would leave the teams tied with 76 points apiece.

They would also have an equal number of regulation/overtime victories. However, the second tie-breaker is head-to-head play and Owen Sound has the advantage.

Meantime, should the Hounds sweep Flint with back-to-back regulation victories this weekend, the clubs would finish tied with 87 points each. However, Flint has more regulation/OT wins to its credit.

Still, “we definitely want the four points in Flint,” said Hounds centre Owen Allard, who also had a goal and an assist in Wednesday’s victory. “But we just want to play structured hockey and get ready for the playoffs. That’s the biggest thing.”

Soo defenceman Rob Calisti, who contributed three assists in the most-recent win over Sudbury, spoke of how he and his teammates will treat the games in Flint as playoff clashes.

“They’re going to be a dry run for the playoffs, which are a different experience, truly a different game,” said Calisti (21-32-53), tied for eighth in scoring among OHL rearguards. “It’s a lot harder to score. Guys are willing to do whatever it takes to prevent goals. Every goal means more. The playoffs are faster and decisions have to be made more quickly.”

Dean speaks highly of the Firebirds.

He’s in his fourth season as the Hounds bench boss and previously spent three seasons as an assistant coach in North Bay.

Over that time, Flint is “probably the best transition team I’ve seen,” said Dean. “They’re very, very dangerous in transition. They like to score goals and they score in bunches.”

“They’re obviously a good team, but they’re definitely beatable,” Allard offered.

When asked, Dean admitted he could choose to rest some of his veterans who have played heavy minutes this season. That is more likely to be the case if some of the team’s injured and/or ill players are able to return this weekend.

The coach said there is a “good chance” winger Tyler Savard (upper-body injury) is able to play. He also used the word “potentially” when questioned about whether winger Marco Mignosa (upper body) would be ready.

Winger/centre Jordan D’Intino, who missed Wednesday’s game due to illness, is likely to skate in Flint.

Asked how he’d feel about sitting out one of the weekend games in order to rest a little heading into playoffs, star centre Rory Kerins said he’d prefer to play, noting how he’s a competitor who always wants to be in the lineup.

Kerins (42-73-115) had a goal and an assist on Wednesday and is second in the OHL scoring race, eight points back of Wyatt Johnston (45-78-123) of Windsor.