Saturday Highlights: Hounds come out on top in Game 2
WESTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES – GAME 2:
SAULT STE. MARIE 4 – KITCHENER 2
(SSM leads series 2-0)
A pair of third period goals from Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Boris Katchouk (12, 13) helped the Soo Greyhounds hold off the Kitchener Rangers in the late going, taking a 4-2 victory on home ice in Game 2.
After Conor Timmins scored the last second game winner on Friday, the Greyhounds earned another win thanks to goals from Katchouk, Morgan Frost (6) and Taylor Raddysh (9) while goaltender Matthew Villalta turned aside 34 shots.
The Rangers opened the scoring for a second straight game as Adam Mascherin (7) found the back of the net off a Logan Stanley feed. Stanley (3) scored a third period marker for the Blueshirts but it would prove too little, too late.
“Our guys, especially our defencemen have done a good job of getting back to pucks first and being able to exit the zone and obviously our forwards doing a good job working back,” said Greyhounds head coach Drew Bannister of his club’s performance.
He noted he felt the Hounds had a slow start in Game 2, but got better as the game progressed.
“You take away the first period, I think we had 17 turnovers in the first period and we cleaned that up,” he added. “If you manage the puck well against a good hockey team like that, you limit their opportunities.”
Kitchener goaltender Mario Culina earned second star honours with 28 saves on the night, several of them coming on high quality scoring chances from the Soo attack. Two of Sault Ste. Marie’s four goals came on an empty net as Culina kept his team in the game.
For first star Boris Katchouk, the opportunity to head to familiar territory in Kitchener, just outside of his hometown of Waterloo, Ont., gets him geared up for Game 3 on Monday.
“Going up 2-0 is massive. I think it’s a huge confidence boost for our team and we’re looking forward to playing in Kitchener. I grew up watching the Rangers play all the time.
“It’s a cool atmosphere and it’s a rink you want to play in.”
Katchouk’s two goals and one assist push him into the OHL playoff scoring lead with 23 points (13-10–23) over 13 games. Fellow Tampa Bay Lighting prospect Taylor Raddysh, who had a goal and two assists on Saturday, sits tied for second in the league with 21 points (9-12–21).
Game 3 goes Monday night in Kitchener when the puck drops at 7:00pm.
HIGHLIGHTS:
POST-GAME PRESS CONFERENCE:
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