Sports stats

OHL Soo Greyhounds

Friday Produces Positives in Win over North Bay

February 21, 2015 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Soo Greyhounds News Release


SAULT STE. MARIE, ON- It wasn't perfect, but it was definitely positive for the Soo Greyhounds.

As the opposition elevated so to would the Hounds and they did so in timely fashion before skating to their third victory this season over the North Bay Battalion.

One difference this time, was the final score as close as they previously had been.

The road team, playing in the Soo following a home contest one night prior, opened the scoring 3:29 into the first period. A puck would go off the skate of Nick Paul and past BRANDON HALVERSON giving the Battalion a 1-0 lead.

Just over a minute later ZACH SENYSHYN pulled the Hounds even with his 20th goal of the season.

After the initial shot went off a body, it settled enough between the circles for the Hounds forward to fire past starting netminder Jake Smith to tie the game at one.

Just forty-one seconds later the Hounds took the lead for good when MICHAEL BUNTING finished off a passing play between himself, JARED MCCANN and TYLER HORE for the 2-1 lead.

As the Hounds continued to mount shots on goal, totalling eighteen in the period, so too did the goals.

Cyling the puck through the Battalion zone with his linemates, SERGEY TOLCHINSKY muscled the puck from the corner and then fired home his own rebound at 11:32 staking the Hounds to a two goal cushion (3-1).

The first period was capped off with MICHAEL BUNTING'S second goal of the game, coming on a Hounds power play.

SERGEY TOLCHINSKY moved the puck from the left of Smith and to the slot where Bunting picked a high spot on the net for his 29th of the year and a 4-1 lead through twenty minutes.

"I thought our first period was the best period we have played all season, we were really good. That first period was on par with our first period we had in Erie. Really good response from our guys in terms of executing what we wanted them to do" explained Head Coach Sheldon Keefe.

Sooite Jake Kment would replace Smith in the North Bay net to star the second period (Smith left with 14 saves on 18 shots) and go the rest of the way.

The Battalion pushed back in the second period indicated by an early 7-2 shot advantage and 18-9 difference over the Hounds in the entire period.

The only goal came midway through the period when Alex Henrikkson grabbed his 17th goal of the season, coming on a North Bay powerplay and JUSTIN BAILEY sitting for the minor penalty.

A number of penalties were of concern for Greyhounds Head Coach Sheldon Keefe, which he addressed and was happy with his players and team's resolve.

"Both penalties take place at a point and time when we're not playing well, the game is slipping away on us and we compound the problem with selfish penalties. This is what regular season is for, to address these king of things" he began when explaining a pair that he was displeased with in the period.

"We had an opportunity to address it, i think we addressed it and the team came together and got it done in the third period."

The Hounds would strike early in the third period as MICHAEL BUNTING capped off the hat-trick, the second of his career, just forty-seven seconds into the period for a 5-2 Greyhound lead.

Then before the period was two minutes old (1:18), TYLER HORE capped off his three-point night letting a point shot go that knicked iron and gave him his 2nd goal of the season.

JEAN DUPUY took advantage of a misplayed puck behind the North Bay net at 7:22 giving the Hounds their seventh goal of the night before Nick Paul scored late (18:41) on the poweprlay capping off the Greyhounds 7-3 victory.

"To me there is nothing but positives happen in this game" began Keefe.

"Our first period is our best period we play all season. Come out and take advantage of a team that played last night and had to travel in. Second period teaches us a whole lot of lessons and we use those lessons to motivate us to get it done in the third" he concluded.

North Bay scored all three goals on the night on the power pay, while the Hounds scored six of their seven while playing even strength.

With the win the Hounds hit the ninety-point plateau while their record improved to 44-11-0-2 on the season. The win, coupled with an Erie loss at Guelph (3-4) increased the Hounds lead atop the Western Conference to ten points.

Erie holds two games in hand over the Hounds.

Check out the Soo Greyhounds Statistics



Ontario Hockey League Stories from February 21, 2015


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Soo Greyhounds Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central