RECAP; SSM (2) @ FLNT (4)
FLINT, MI-
As they started off a quick two game road trip in Mid-Michigan Friday, the Soo Greyhounds entered unbeaten in twelve regulation contests.
It would be a streak that would end.
Meeting with the Flint Firebirds for the third time this season, the result this night would be much different than the lopsided encounter just over a week ago.
Flint would open the scoring, and never trail the Greyhounds en-route to dropping the West Division leaders 4 to 2.
The fast paced first period would see Flint open the scoring past the midway point of the period.
Ty Dellandrea faced a one-on-one situation and made a step to his left before firing a low shot that snuck underneath ETHAN TAYLOR for the 1-0 lead.
Shortly thereafter the Greyhounds had the lone powerplay of the period and came within inches of tying the game when KEEGHAN HOWDESHELL’s one-time shot rang off iron.
In the dying minutes Greyhounds rearguard ROBERT CALISTI got away a good first shot and then got to the net only to be denied by Luke Cavallin on the rebound.
Despite outshooting Flint 14-12 through twenty minutes, the Firebirds held the 1-0 lead.
Flint had a missed opportunity early in the second period when a fanned pass by the Hounds in their own zone would have set-up Eric Uba in the slot alone, but his shot broke and the opportunity evaportated quickly.
Scoring chances continued to be the theme of the period, tilted in the Greyhounds favour.
KEEGHAN HOWDESHELL took the puck on a 2-on-1 and then on a separate sequence was given the puck by BARRETT HAYTON but was unable to pull his team even despite his offensive chances.
The save of the game, and perhaps his save of the season personally, came from ETHAN TAYLOR just around the midway point when he dove to his right and got the paddle down taking away a goal from Ty Dellandrea and keeping the game a single goal deficit.
That changed when the Greyhounds went to their second powerplay of the night.
With just over five minutes left in the period MAC HOLLOWELL capped off a give-and-go with MORGAN FROST by stepping to the side of a Firebirds defenceman and beating Cavallin for his 7th goal of the season and a tied 1-1 game.
Mere inches separated the Hounds from taking the lead in the final minute when first RYAN ROTH run it off the right post before JORDAN SAMBROOK’S backhand in front of the goal did the same thing to take a tied game (1-1) into the dressing room after forty minutes.
Flint would regain the lead on their first and only powerplay of the night fairly early in the third period.
A hard pass off the way was stopped in front by Jake Durham who backhanded home a 2-1 lead at 5:48.
And while the Greyhounds limited Flint to just three shots in each half of the period, they made the most of the opportunites.
The Greyhounds deficit increased to two at 14:23 when Eric Uba poked the puck from the right of the goal to provide Flint a 3-1 lead.
MAC HOLLOWELL’S 2nd goal of the night (17:18) put the Greyhounds back within a goal, but the comeback would fall short when Jake Durham netted his 2nd goal of the night, this time into an empty net with 40 seconds to play, to secure the 4-2 Flint victory.
With the loss the Greyhounds record fell to 12-4-3-1, while for Flint it marked their second consecutive victory and improved them to 2-16-1-0.
ATTENDANCE- 3,200
RED STAR THREE STARS
1- Jake Durham, FLNT
2- Vladislav Kolyachonok, FLNT
3- Luke Cavallin, FLNT
To view the OHL Box Score CLICK HERE
UP NEXT;
The Greyhounds complete their quick two-game road trip tomorrow night – Saturday, November 10th when they head north to take on the Saginaw Spirit.
Game time is 7:05 PM.
So far in 2018-19 the West Division/I-75 rivals have split their season series with a win apeice.
Fans can tune into all the action beginning with the Soo Video TV Pre-Game Show on Rock 101 (101.3 FM or www.rock101.net) starting at 6:35 PM.
** This game is not televised **
