Friday Highlights: Thrills abound in December debut

 

SAULT STE. MARIE 3 – KINGSTON 2 – OT
Colorado Avalanche prospect Conor Timmins (6) ripped a wrister over the shoulder of Jeremy Helvig 2:17 into overtime to keep the streak alive as the Soo Greyhounds won a club record-tying 13th straight game with a 3-2 win in Kingston. The Hounds equal past records set in 1981 and 1985 as Keeghan Howdeshell (6) and Cole MacKay (4) also scored goals while Barrett Hayton collected a pair of assists. Vaughn OHL Goaltender of the Month Matthew Villalta made 22 saves in front of a hometown crowd while Helvig made 37 in the Kingston crease. The Hounds outshot the Fronts 40-24, improving to 22-3-2-0, three points ahead of second place Sarnia in the West Division. Jason Robertson had a pair of assists for Kingston while Linus Nyman (11) and Nathan Dunkley (10) both found the back of the net. Kingston collects a point in the overtime loss, falling to 14-7-3-3.
GAME CENTRE

 

KITCHENER 5 – OWEN SOUND 4 – OT
Joseph Garreffa recorded his second straight four-assists outing on the back end, setting up the overtime game winner off the stick of Kole Sherwood (11, 12) as the Kitchener Rangers overcame a 4-2 deficit to defeat visiting Owen Sound 5-4. Sherwood snapped a wrister past Owen Sound’s Mack Guzda 1:25 into the extra frame to give the Rangers a five-point lead over Owen Sound and Guelph atop the Midwest Division. The winner was one of two goals from Sherwood on the night while Greg Meireles (6), Adam Mascherin (15) and Logan Stanley (7) also found the back of the net. The Rangers outshot the Attack 43-39, going 2-for-5 on the power play to Owen Sound’s 2-for-2 mark. Mitchell Russell (1), Jonah Gadjovich (12) and Philadelphia Flyers prospect Maksim Sushko (13, 14) scored for the Bears while Aidan Dudas recorded three assists. The Attack suffer their fourth straight loss and fall to 13-10-1-2 on the season.
GAME CENTRE

 

FLINT 4 – HAMILTON 3 – OT
Fedor Gordeev set up Hunter Holmes (5) for the game winner 1:38 into overtime as the Flint Firebirds ended a five game slide, defeating the visiting Hamilton Bulldogs 4-3. The Firebirds climbed out to a 3-0 lead in the first period before Hamilton clawed back to knot the score at three. Kyle Harris (2, 3) scored twice for Flint while Connor Roberts (4) scored his first as a Firebird, striking against his former club. Garrett Forrest made 33 saves while Jack Wismer collected two assists, helping the Firebirds claim victory despite being outshot 36-21. Marian Studenic (10), Will Bitten (7) and Ryan Moore (9) scored for the Bulldogs as Hamilton saw a three-game winning streak draw to a close.
GAME CENTRE

 

GUELPH 5 – ERIE 4 – OT
Barret Kirwin and Garrett McFadden teamed up to find Cedric Ralph (10, 11) alone in the slot for the game winner just 20 seconds into overtime as the Guelph Storm outlasted the visiting Erie Otters 5-4. The Storm squandered a 4-2 lead as third period goals from Erie’s Joseph Mack (4) and Owen Headrick (8) forced overtime before the Storm put things away. Cam Hillis (12), Givani Smith (2) and Tag Bertuzzi (1) also scored for the Storm while Ralph potted two on the night. Storm goaltender Anthony Popovich made 34 saves as the Storm climbed into a second place tie in the Midwest Division, sporting a record of 13-10-1-2. The Otters drop their third straight decision as Ivan Lodnia (15) and Maxim Golod (5) scored additional markers. The Otters fall to 10-13-3-1.
GAME CENTRE

 

NORTH BAY 3 – SARNIA 2
Vancouver Canucks prospect Brett McKenzie (7) scored the eventual game winner at 10:43 of the third period as the North Bay Battalion snuck past the CHL’s top-ranked Sarnia Sting 3-2 on the road. Justin Brazeau (18) tallied while Luke Burghardt (11) had a goal and an assist on the night. Julian Sime made 30 saves to get the win as the Troops outshot the Sting 36-32 and improved to 9-15-3-0. Sarnia sees a five-game winning streak come to an end as Toronto Maple Leafs draftee Ryan McGregor (8) had a goal and an assist while Sean Josling (9) also scored. Aidan Hughes made 33 saves in the loss as the Sting lose at home in regulation for the first time since Sept. 23rd and fall three points behind first place Sault Ste. Marie in the West Division.
GAME CENTRE

 

OSHAWA 5 – LONDON 3
Boston Bruins prospect Jack Studnicka (9, 10) led the way with two goals and two assists as the Oshawa Generals outpaced the London Knights on the road 5-3, taking two points in a fast-paced game. Nico Gross (3), Kyle MacLean (4) and Renars Krastenbergs (9) added Oshawa goals while Cole Ceci made 25 saves. The Generals earn their third straight victory and win in London for the first time since October 2013, improving to 12-13-2-0 on the campaign. Max Jones (14), Evan Bouchard (9) and Robert Thomas (16) all scored for the Knights while Joseph Raaymakers made 28 saves. The loss ends London’s four-game home winning streak as the Knights fall back to .500 at 12-12-2-0.
GAME CENTRE

 

SUDBURY 6 – MISSISSAUGA 3
Dmitry Sokolov (14, 15) and Macauley Carson (3, 4) each had two goals and an assist as the Sudbury Wolves doubled up the visiting Mississauga Steelheads 6-3. Montreal Canadiens prospect Michael Pezzetta (13) earned first star honours with a goal and an assist while Darian Pilon also tallied and had a helper as the Wolves went 3-for-6 on the power play. Overage goaltender Mario Culina made 34 saves to get the win in goal, surrendering Mississauga goals off the stick of Owen Tippett (5), Michael McLeod (4) and Jacob Moverare (2). The Steelheads suffer their fifth straight loss, falling to 11-15-0-1. Sudbury wins consecutive games for the first time all season, improving to 9-16-4-0.
GAME CENTRE