Hounds PK finds proficiency
by Peter Ruicci (Independent Media) | Photo by Bob Davies
By killing off penalties, the Soo Greyhounds have been killing the hopes of their opponents.
“It’s been a huge difference maker,” said head coach John Dean.
Over the past 15 games, the Soo has permitted just five power-play goals in 50 chances.
An impressive kill rate of 90 per cent has lifted the Hounds’ penalty-killing units from the bottom of the Ontario Hockey League to a tie for ninth place, owning a success rate of 79.0 per cent entering Thursday night action.
Heading into back-to-back, 7:07 p.m. home-ice starts against Sarnia Friday and Saturday, the Soo has lost in regulation just once over its last 10 games, posting a 6-1-2-1 record.
“Since we’ve been on a little bit of a streak here, special teams have really helped us,” said Dean, whose club takes a 24-13-4-1 mark into the weekend games.
While assistant coach Jamie Tardif has had the league-leading power play (28.7 per cent) humming all season, “Smitty has the PK absolutely buzzing right now,” Dean said of associate coach Jordan Smith. “The players are really engaged with the idea of being aggressive and being difference makers in the game.”
The Hounds bench boss went on to say the units look very structured and how that’s a credit to both Smith and the players “who really have things dialed in.”
Penalty-killing was critical in the Soo’s most-recent win, a 6-3 decision over the Wolves on Sunday in Sudbury. The Hounds were protecting a 4-3 lead when Sudbury went on the power play with 3:25 left in regulation.
The Soo’s task became more difficult when the Wolves pulled netminder Mitchell Weeks at that point. That gave them a 6-on-4 advantage.
However, centre Rory Kerins won several late face-offs, the PK units defended well and goaltender Tucker Tynan was unbeatable.
With the penalty killed off, Tye Kartye scored his 32nd goal into an empty net to clinch the victory.
Cole MacKay, who assisted on Kartye’s goal, spoke of how a number of factors have gone into the club’s PK hot streak.
He talked about how he and his teammates have bought into the penalty-killing structure Smith wants to see the Hounds play.
“We’ve picked our spots when to be super aggressive,” MacKay added, noting how the Hounds pride themselves in that aggressive approach. “But you also have to be a little conservative as well and not just go full out and give the opponent plays.”
The overage winger explained how the club’s decision making has gotten better.
“And we’ve also figured out our transfers a lot better,” added MacKay, discussing the improvement players have made when it comes to sliding into different spots to cover for teammates. “We’re making it a lot harder for the other team to set up and pick us apart, which they haven’t been able to do.”
MacKay went on to credit Smith for working through the difficulties the Hounds had while killing penalties earlier in the season.
Dean said the club’s PK unit went through early growing pains, pointing to a number of new players making their OHL debuts and a number of new systems for them to attempt to master.
“Sometimes things click right away and sometimes they take time,” the coach added.
Meanwhile, after losing 6-1 to Guelph on Wednesday, Sarnia carries a 15-17-3-1 record into Friday’s contest. However, the Sting owns an impressive road mark of 10-6-1-0.
The Hounds coach spoke of how Sarnia has some dangerous offensive players and how head coach Alan Letang has his team playing with a lot of structure.
“They like to skate in straight lines and spread the width of the ice against us,” said Dean, whose club was a 2-0 winner in late November in the only meeting between the West Division rivals this season.
Notes:
Dean said netminder Samuel Ivanov is “progressing nicely” after suffering a lower-body injury last Friday in North Bay.
The first-year goalie, who owns a 16-7-0-0 record, along with a 3.39 goals against average and a saves percentage of .880, could return as early as Feb. 18.
“That’s the minimum amount of time he’ll be out and then we’ll take it from there,” Dean added.
