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Soo Greyhounds

Otters Outlast Greyhounds

October 24, 2014 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Soo Greyhounds News Release


After starting the season with eight straight wins, the Soo Greyhounds have hit a bump in the road.

The team has lost three of their last four games with the latest loss being a 6-4 setback at the hands of the Erie Otters on Friday night at the Essar Centre.

The team has struggled recently with losses against the Belleville Bulls (9-2-0-0), Oshawa Generals (11-1-1-0) and Erie (10-0-0-1).

"We're starting to learn that we're not that good a team," said Greyhounds Coach Sheldon Keefe. "We need to win a big game. This isn't good enough."

Keefe also spoke of the need to find another level in the loss.

"The effort was fine but our overall energy level could have been better and rise to the occasion," said Keefe, "I didn't like how we didn't find another level and another gear in our game. The game overall was quite even but the different was we gave pucks to them and they capitalized on their chances. From our goaltending out we just weren't quite good enough."

Blake Speers had a goal and two assists to lead the Greyhounds offensively while Colton White, Darnell Nurse and Jean Dupuy also scored.

Goaltender Brandon Halverson stopped 29 shots for the Greyhounds.

"Our best players tonight weren't our best players and theirs were very good and that's the difference in the game right there," Keefe said. "We're playing the best offensive team in the league and the most dynamic player in the world (Connor McDavid) and you're going to have to get a good goaltending performance. It was really the first true test for (Halverson) and we needed him to be better than that. It's a really good chance for him to grow."

"I didn't think they got any good goals tonight," Keefe also said. "Whether it was a result of us giving them the puck or on the first and third goals from really tough spots, we need saves there."

The Greyhounds turned over a number of pucks leading to Erie chances in the game.

"We gave them the puck and they capitalized," Keefe said.

"(Forcing turnovers) is just being in the right position and reading the play," said Otters coach Kris Knoblauch. "There were a couple times where they were making plays and just didn't quite execute and if our coverage is terrible they might still execute. We did create some turnovers but they were able to break our forecheck throughout the night."

Dylan Strome had a pair of goals to lead the Otters attack offensively. Taylor Raddysh, Trent Fox, Nick Betz and Connor McDavid also scored while Patrick Murphy and Alex DeBrincat set up two goals each in the win.

"We have to go into these games knowing that these elite guys are going to get chances," said Keefe. "We knew we had to get a great goaltending performance tonight and we didn't. We knew we needed to get a great performance from our best players tonight and we certainly didn't."

Devin Williams stopped 25 shots for the Otters.

"Early on in the game, the Greyhounds could have had the lead but (Williams) came up with some big saves," Knoblauch said of the veteran. "When we needed him, he was outstanding."

Despite being held to one goal, McDavid was a major factor for the Otters in the win.

"Every time he was on the ice the ice was tilted in our direction," Keefe said of McDavid. "He was a factor in the game. He was quite dynamic and whether he was on the scoresheet or not, his presence was felt."

The Greyhounds wrap up their homestand on Saturday night when they host the Peterborough Petes.

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