Miller sparks comeback over Rangers
KITCHENER, ONTARIO-
Resilience reaped rewards for the Soo Greyhounds on Sunday afternoon. Following Captain Miller’s goal forty-seven seconds into the third period, the Hounds scored three more times in the period for a 5-3 come from behind victory over the Kitchener Rangers.
“We’ve been waiting for our leaders to step up and be accounted for at key moments. Our Captain was determined to make sure we weren’t going to be denied today” began Hounds Head Coach Sheldon Keefe when asked about his Miller’s play.
It was fellow Hounds rearguard RYAN SPROUL who set the tone early just 2:04 in laying out Tobias Rieder with a clean hit that grabbed attention of the Rangers but was quickly diffused.
After running out to an 8-2 shot advantage the Hounds opened the scoring on their third powerplay of the period.
BRANDON ALDERSON ripped home his team-leading 27th of the season, while standing in from of John Gibson for the 1-0 lead at 12:53.
Just over a minute later Kitchener would respond.
Scoring their first of two straight on the man advantage, Matt Puempel fired home a rebound at 13:58 and then Tobias Rieder stepped off the wall at 15:22 before wiring a shot hight past goaltender MATT MURRAY.
Rieder later redirected a point shot home, and Kitchener held a 3-1 lead after the first period.
The Hounds started the second period with 1:32 remaining on an advantage but had their best early chance as play resumed back to 5-on-5.
Two minutes in JARED MCCANN skated up the left wing before finding ALDERSON in front who’s redirection was turned aside by Gibson.
MATT MURRAY sprawled at one of the ice stopping Matt Puempel while Gibson somehow kept a later chance by ALDERSON out of the net while laying on his stomach, as the two goalies combined for 26 saves and a scoreless second period.
Heading into the third period down a pair of goals the locals needed another good start to the period, and so they would.
While playing 4-on-4 in the third, MCCANN started a scramble around the Rangers goal before Captain COLIN MILLER found the back of the net for his 20th of the season to cut the Rangers lead to 3-2.
The Hounds later pulled even when NICK COUSINS led the rush up the right wing before placing the puck in front of the goal for SERGEY TOLCHINSKY to get his 26th of the season.
Then in the latter half of the period the Hounds penalty-killing unit would rise to the occasion with their biggest play of the night.
“Much like our 5-on-5 play, despite giving up goals I felt our PK was fine so we encouraged the guys to stick with the plan. They dug deep and found a way through adversity” explained Keefe.
With COUSINS in the box serving a 10-minute misconduct, the Hounds saw two late penalties against them but they’d go unphased.
COLIN MILLER chipped the puck up the right wing before sending it across to JARED MCCANN driving the net, and the Hounds regained the lead, 4-3. The shorthanded goal was McCann’s 20th of the season.
While still shorthanded, the Hounds faced a 6-on-4 Kitchener advantage after the Rangers pulled Gibson to the bench.
With 43 seconds to go in the period BRANDON ALDERSON lifted the puck from his own zone and into the empty net for his 2nd goal of the night, and sealing a 5-3 Greyhound victory.
Matt Murray backstopped the Hounds with 38 saves and his 25th win of the year.
“Great effort today. Matt Murray led the way by not allowing their lead to grow and our guys stuck with it, were resilient and got rewarded for it” continued Keefe.
“Our guys were real strong mentally today throughout the game. Despite us getting down they were confident we were playing well and stayed with it.
A good step towards getting our game back on track” concluded Keefe.
The victory improved the Hounds to 35-24-3-3, good for 76 pts while regaining 6th position in the OHL’s Western Conference.
Action resumes this coming week with the final three games of the regular season, at Essar Centre.
Wednesday, March 13 vs Plymouth
Saturday, March 16 vs Kitchener
Sunday, March 17 vs London
All three games are set for 7:07 p.m. starts.
