Mississauga scores six unanswered goals to skate past Hounds
Story by soogreyhounds.com | Photos by James Egan Photography
SAULT STE. MARIE, ON-
For the first time since November 11/16, the Soo Greyhounds dropped a regulation contest inside the Essar Centre.
Tied 2-2 heading into the third period it was the visiting Mississauga Steelheads scoring four goals in a span of four minutes and nine seconds to separate themselves from the Hounds to the tune of a 6-2 decision.
The message following the game from Head Coach Drew Bannister was a simple one.
“Go home, look in the mirror, tomorrow is a work day, we have to get better. Obviously we’re not good enough today so tomorrow we are going to get better. We are all going to work, don’t expect you’re going to have a day off tomorrow, it’s going to be a tough day” he said evenly.
Facing up against a fast-skating Mississauga team the Hounds were able to get on the scoreboard first just over five minutes into the opening period.
DAVID MILLER recorded his 19th goal of the year, and 3rd in as many games, burying from the left of goaltender Jacob Ingham for the 1-0 lead after twenty minutes.
The Greyhounds powerplay would connect early in the second period (2:51) to increase to a two goal lead when TIM GETTINGER redirected a GUSTAV BOURAMMAN point shot home for his team-leading 21st goal of the season and a 2-0 lead.
Mississauga’s Trent Fox put the visitors on the board a couple minutes later scoring his first goal since being acquired earlier this week.
With JOSEPH RAAYMAKERS stick wedged in the netting of his goal, Fox dove at the side of the goal at 4:58 to cut into the Greyhounds lead.
Then in the final minute of the period (19:20) Owen Tippett scored his 34th goal of the year going upstairs on RAAYMAKERS to send the teams into the intermission tied 2-2.
The visitors would separate themselves from the Hounds scoring four more in the third period starting just over three minutes into the period.
“I thought we had a lot of passengers today. I just thought we had guys that weren’t engaged in the hockey game in all aspects of our line-up. And then it came down to work, we got guys that go outworked in certain situations. We didn’t get a lot of puck luck and I thought we got frustrated from it” said Bannister when asked what the difference in the contest was.
“They’re a team that can skate well, they’re dangerous, they made the most of their opportunities. I thought some of our guys weren’t focused and ready to play a hockey game tonight” Bannister concluded.
Spencer Watson, Jacob Cascagnette, Michael McLeod and Nathan Bastian had the third period goals for the Steelheads as they went on a run of six unanswered goals in the game.
The loss dropped the Hounds record to 30 wins, 10 losses, 2 overtime and 0 shootout losses, for 62 points on the year.
With the loss, combined with Windsor’s Friday win, the Hounds now are separated from the Spitfires by 4 points for the West Division lead. (Windsor holds two games in hand).
RED STAR THREE STARS OF THE GAME
1- Michale McLeod, MISS
2- Owen Tippett, MISS
3- Spencer Watson, MISS
To view the OHL Boxscore CLICK HERE.
UP NEXT;
Sunday afternoon (Jan. 15) will be a battle between the top two teams in the Western Conference when the London Knights make their first visit of the season to Sault Ste. Marie.
Game time is 2:07 PM.
Great seats are still available at the Essar Centre Box Office (Saturday 10 AM to 2 PM, Sunday 10 AM through game time) or online anytime at www.essarcentre.ca or by phone at 1.866.775.9422.
