RECAP; Greyhounds refuse to be denied
by Peter Ruicci (Independent Media) | Photo provided by sudburywolves.com
It certainly wasn’t pretty.
But when facing a late-game challenge on Sunday, the Soo Greyhounds were equal to the task.
“We found a way to dig deep at the end when it really mattered,” said head coach John Dean.
“Obviously, we were hungry,” added winger Tye Kartye, who scored twice – including a last-minute empty-netter which sealed the outcome – and contributed an assist, as the Hounds defeated the Sudbury Wolves 6-3 before 500 at Sudbury Community Arena.
Having watched the Wolves score twice in the third period, erasing what had been a 4-1 Soo lead, the Greyhounds penalty-killers found themselves in a precarious position late in regulation.
Kalvyn Watson’s checking-from-behind minor with 3:25 to go became more difficult to kill off when the Wolves pulled netminder Mitchell Weeks.
However, while on the short end of a 6-on-4, Rory Kerins shone in the circle by winning a number of face-offs. The Hounds also defended well and, combined with some crisp play by goalie Tucker Tynan, were able to hang on.
“That was a pretty-impressive PK at the end,” added Dean. “Six-on-four is difficult for two minutes. Credit to the guys on the kill.”
“And guys were putting their bodies on the line, making some good blocks,” added Kartye.
With the penalty having expired, the Soo forced a turnover in the defensive zone and, following a feed from Cole MacKay, Kartye’s shot from inside his own blue-line made its way into the vacant Sudbury net.
His 32nd goal, tied with London’s Luke Evangelista for the OHL lead, made it 5-3 at 19:35.
Just seven seconds later, Owen Allard picked up a rebound in front of Weeks and wrapped up the scoring with his third of the season.
“It definitely showed a lot of heart,” first-year player Bryce McConnell-Barker said of his team’s resolve during the most-important part of the game. “I’m proud of the group coming away with the win.”
“We needed that one,” added Dean, whose team improved to 24-13-4-1, after losing 5-2 and 5-4 in overtime in North Bay. “Our guys really wanted it. I know that much.”
Besides nearly letting a 4-1 advantage slip away, the Hounds were also unable to build on an earlier 3-0 lead. That aspect of the game had the coach shaking his head.
Speaking specifically of Sudbury’s final two goals, Dean put the blame on his club’s decision-making efforts.
He spoke of making choices on breakouts that have “no upside, only downside to them. That cost us a goal. We’re also making choices at the (offensive) blue-line, still trying to make plays when all we have to do is chip to space.”
That aspect of his Greyhounds’ game “will be heavily-focused on and addressed this week at practice.”
“We didn’t play great. We’re happy with the win,” said Kartye, whose club outshot the Wolves 30-27, while also blanking Sudbury on all five of the Wolves power-play opportunities. “But we know we have to be better.”
Leading 3-1 after two periods, Watson’s seventh goal of the season, off a feed by Rob Calisti, gave his team a 4-1 advantage at 1:10 of the final frame.
But a shot by Sudbury’s Dominik Jendek appeared to deflect off of a Soo player and behind Tynan less than a minute later.
With the score 4-2, former Greyhound Marc Boudreau took a slick feed from Jendek, and was all alone in the slot before beating Tynan high to the stick side at 14:56.
That set the stage for the Hounds late-game exploits, a turnaround from their recent penchant of allowing late-game leads to evaporate.
Finding success on Sunday was important, said Dean, whose team is slated to entertain Sarnia Friday and Saturday at GFL Memorial Gardens.
“You need to learn to feel confident in those situations,” the coach began. “And the only way you get confidence is through successful experience.”
McConnell-Barker, Watson and Cole MacKay finished the game with a goal and two assists each. Calisti and MacKay had been sidelined with upper-body injuries before returning on Sunday.
Kerins, the league’s leading scorer (26-47-73) entering Sunday night action, contributed a pair of assists, while also winning 18 of 29 face-offs.
Quentin Musty had the other goal for the Wolves, who have lost five of six to the Soo this season. Sudbury’s overall mark fell to 13-24-3-1.
Asked about McConnell-Barker, Dean spoke of how the youngster “played fantastic. He could have had two more goals, easily.”
“I think the puck was going my way,” said the London, Ont., native, whose stat line improved to 12-16-28. “I had a lot of good chances and my linemates (Watson and Tyler Savard) were feeding me well.”
Notes:
Netminder Samuel Ivanov, who was injured early in Friday’s 5-4 OT loss in the Bay, will be out a minimum two weeks with a lower-body injury.
To replace him the team has recalled first-year netminder Charlie Schenkel, who had recently been sent to the Central Canada Hockey League’s Rockland Nationals in order to get some playing time.
