Whalers Back in First Place in 3-0 Victory over London

Published on February 11, 2006 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Plymouth Whalers News Release


LONDON - Although the Plymouth Whalers' 3-0 victory Friday night in London was a total team effort, the Whalers' Chicago Connection came up big in a physical, playoff-style game before a sellout crowd of 9,090 at the John Labatt Centre in London.

With the victory, Plymouth (26-23-1-3, for 56 points) moves back into first place in the Ontario Hockey League's West Division, one point ahead of Saginaw (27-24-1-0), who lost, 4-1, in Ottawa Friday night. Plymouth is now two points ahead of Windsor (24-23-3-3), who won, 4-1, in Sarnia Friday night.

London - the top team in the OHL's West Conference and second overall in the Ontario Hockey League with 75 points - suffered their second straight defeat at home. The Knights lost Thursday night, 2-1, in overtime to Kitchener.

Plymouth got goals from Chicago-native Mike Letizia in the first period and second period goals from Gino Pisellini (Itasca, IL) and Jared Boll (Crystal Lake, IL). Plymouth goaltenders Justin Peters and Justin Garay set a franchise record as they became the first-ever Whaler tandem to combine efforts in a single game for a shutout. Peters stopped 31 shots as the game's second star in 45 minutes of work; Garay finished up with two saves the rest of the way.

Plymouth penalty killers shut down London's league-leading power play (28.9 percent) by going 11-for-11 on the penalty kill - including four separate London two-man advantages.

Letizia got the scoring going for Plymouth at 17:57 of the first period when he followed up Derek Merlini's rush in the London zone and beat Knights' goaltender Adam Dennis for his 11th of the season.

Early in the second period, Boll started the physical side of the game when he hit London forward Robbie Drummond with a heavy-but-legal check at center ice. Drummond did not return to the game and Boll was not penalized. Plymouth took a 2-0 lead at 5:44 of the second period when Pisellini tipped Steve Ward's hard shot from the high slot by Dennis for his 14th goal of the season. Boll made is 3-0 at 12:13 of the second period when he took Andrew Fournier's pass at the lower rim of the left circle in the London zone and scored his 16th goal of the season.

Peters was working on a shutout in the third period when fighting started in front of the bench areas at 5:25 of the third period and he was challenged by Dennis. The two went to center ice, fought, and both were ejected from the game for leaving their respective creases and fighting. In all, referee Sean McQuigge handed out 12 fighting majors in the overall incident.

Plymouth returns home Saturday night to host Barrie at 7:30 pm at the Compuware Sports Arena. Tickets are available by calling (734) 453-8400.

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from February 11, 2006


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