OHL Soo Greyhounds

DeAngelo Helps Hounds Control Spitfires

Published on February 27, 2015 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Soo Greyhounds News Release


SAULT STE. MARIE, ON- Early it was a chess match, but in the late stages the Soo Greyhounds poured it on offensively sparking four third period goals on Friday to down the Windsor Spitfires.

The Hounds returned to Essar Centre ice after a four day layoff for the club and with just one practice under their belt. That coupled with the fact they were minus five veterans left Head Coach Sheldon Keefe pleased with the game overall.

"I thought we were fine. We had an excellent start to the game, probably deserved a couple early and it didn't happen. Windsor had some time in our zone after that and they were firing pucks at the net but I didn't think we gave up very much" he began.

"Through two periods we had them only shooting one puck from the scoring area (inside the slot/circles), so we did a nice job of keeping them of the outside. Third period we're in complete control. We got a bit sloppy and confident, but considering our line-up and coming off the break I was pretty pleased with the game" he continued.

The short line-up was a result of seeing five veterans sidelined (Nurse, Ganly, Speers, Ritchie and Bailey) due to various injuries.

The visitors (Windsor) had played last night, and with a quick turnaround opted to deploy a 1-3-1 defense in the early going that took some adjustments from the locals to work their way through the "chess match".

The Hounds opened the game with a lot of pressure while building up a healthy shot advantage and found some of their best chances come off the sticks of ZACH SENYSHYN, MICHAEL BUNTING and SERGEY TOLCHINSKY in what would be a scoreless first period of play.

Windsor would open he scoring 1:31 into the second period when Slater Doggett banked the puck of Greyhounds net minder BRANDON HALVERSON for the 1-0 lead.

ANTHONY DEANGELO tied the game at 7:29 after jumping up in the play and after seeing his first shot go of the side of the net the defenseman stayed with the play and tucked the puck past and out of place Brendan Johnston to make it a 1-1 game.

The story of the second period came with 6:28 to play when Greyhound forward KEIGAN GOETZ was assessed a five-minute match penalty for slew footing, off a draw, that sent the Spitfires to what could have been a lengthy man advtange.

The Hounds killed off 3:23 of the shorthanded situation before a Windsor penalty negated the remaining time and eventually put the Hounds on a brief 5-on-3.

Neither team would capitalize on their power plays, and later skated through two periods tied at one goal apiece.

The Hounds found their game even more and dominated the shot clock and score in the third period taking the lead and extending it thanks to three goals in the opening 9:40 of the period.

First, ZACH SENYSHYN went up the right wing and went bar down for his 23rd goal of the season at 1:47 before back-to-back goals before the period was ten minutes old.

JARED MCCANN extended his points streak to nine games at 7:29, wiring a shot glove side for his 31st of the year before ANTHONY DEANGELO, on the power play, took advantage of a Windsor change before skating it and blasting home his 18th of the season for a 4-1 Greyhound lead.

The lead would then be extended to 5-1 when JEAN DUPUY recorded his 14th of the season, firing from the near boards and into an empty net, as Johnston was out of position.

The Hounds dominated the third period while outshooting Windsor 15-0 into the final five minutes of the period.

BRANDON HALVERSON had little chance late in the period when Windsor scored back-to-back goals. Cristiano DiGiacinto converted on a 2-on-1 at 15:22 on the Spitfires first shot of the period then Logan Brown was left all alone and backhanded home the final goal of the game at 19:23.

The victory (5-3) extended the Hounds winning streak to eight games, while improving their overall record to 46-11-0-2 on the season and coupled with Erie's regulation loss in Owen Sound (4-5) kept a ten point advantage for top spot in the Western Conference.

Anthony DeAngelo, the games Red Star First Star of the Game had a three point night leading the way with two goals and one assist.

"He's a world class player that is very much in control of things that are happening on the ice. When he is in control of his emotions and when he's dialled in he's a major difference maker" commented Keefe when asked about his defenseman.

The Hounds will head into Sunday afternoon with an even shorter bench, expecting to just dress ten forwards for the game against London.

As for how Keefe felt his club dealt with that type of situation tonight, he ended with;

"I thought we dealt with it fine. I think it was clear the way we started the third period we had a lot of juice left and that was good to see" he began

"Perhaps a product of the time off we've given them. We're playing a team that played last night, had to travel in here and they're playing against a team that's only been on the ice once in the last 5 days.

I thought our legs showed in the third, and that's good" he concluded.

ATTENDANCE - 4,176

RED STAR THREE STARS OF THE GAME

1-SSM, Anthony DeAngelo

2-SSM, Jean Dupuy

3-SSM, Jared McCann

To view the online scoresheet CLICK HERE.

GAME NOTES;

* The Hounds finish off the month of February with win/loss record of 9-2-0-0

* Specialty teams; Hounds were 1-for-3 on the powerplay and 2-for-2 on the penalty kill

* As a result of the slew footing match penalty, it is expected Keigan Goetz will miss Sunday as a result of the automatic 1-game suspension that goes with the infraction

NEXT UP;

The five-game homestand concludes for the Hounds this coming Sunday, March 1st when they play host to the London Knights.

This will be the 4th and final meeting of the regular season between the two clubs.

NOTE the game time has been changed to a 3 p.m. start to accommodate the Nationally televised audience on Sportsnet and to co-ordinate with Hometown Hockey festivities.

Tickets are still available at the Essar Centre Box Office (Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. through game time), online at www.essarcentre.ca or by phone at 1.866.775.9422.

Check out the Soo Greyhounds Statistics

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from February 27, 2015


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