SmartStop Post-Game Recap – Special Teams Sink Steelheads
MISSISSAUGA, ON – The Mississauga Steelheads comeback effort falls short as they drop a Sunday afternoon affair with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds 5-2 at Paramount Fine Foods Centre.
Mississauga fell behind 3-0 after two periods but were able to bring it back to 3-2 before the Greyhounds added a pair of insurance markers to put the game away. Special teams killed the Steelheads, as they gave up three power play goals and a shorthanded marker.
Marc Boudreau and Porter Martone had the goals for the Steelheads (14-8-0-0). Chas Sharpe had a pair of assists in the contest, while Leenders was strong making 36 saves on 40 shots.
For Sault Ste. Marie (15-7-2-0), Jordan D’Intino had a goal and an assist, while Andrew Gibson and Travis Hayes had a pair of assists. Goaltender Charlie Schenkel made 24 saves in the win.
It looked like the Greyhounds were going to get on the board first just one minute into the second period but Leenders made a great save on a big rebound off the stick of Jack Beck, keeping the game scoreless.
Four minutes later it was the Steelheads who looked like they were going to take the lead when Luke Misa made a beautiful move off the rush cutting to the slot, and wiring a shot past Schenkel but not past the post, as his shot rang off the iron and out.
With 9:41 left in the second and the Greyhounds on a power play, they finally broke the deadlock. Gibson fired a wrist shot from the point that was tipped past Leenders by Owen Allard for his 12th goal of the season, giving his team the lead.
Just two minutes later the Soo would take advantage of another Steelheads penalty. With Angus MacDonell in the box for high sticking, D’Intino ripped a one timer by Leenders and followed up with a big celebration to make it 2-0.
Special teams continued to bite the home team, but this time they were playing up a man. With the puck behind the Steelheads net, D’Intino found Alex Kostov wide open in front of the net who buried it for his first of the year to extend the lead to 3-0.
The tide started to turn midway through the third when Adam Zidlicky’s shot was stopped but deflected high in the air, nobody able to locate it. Well, nobody but Boudreau. He picked up the loose puck and beat Schenkel to cut the deficit to 3-1.
The comeback bid continued with 6:40 remaining when Mississauga got on the power play after Brady Martin took a tripping penalty, and the fish took advantage. Martone wound up in the high slot alone with the puck and with a clear view of the net, where he wired a shot past the Soo goalie, making it a one goal game.
The comeback bid fell short however with the special teams again being the Steelheads’ downfall. With just under two minutes remaining, a pair of penalties put them down two men, and Sault Ste. Marie took advantage with Marco Mignosa pulling off a great deke after a beautiful pass to score their fourth goal of the night.
Justin Clouthier recorded an empty net goal to seal the victory, making the final score 5-2.
