Halverson, Hounds Shutout Spirit to Take Commanding 3-0 Lead
April 1, 2015 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Soo Greyhounds News Release
SAGINAW, MI- The Soo Greyhounds have put the Saginaw Spirit on the edge.
After winning the first two games of their series on home ice, the Hounds would skate into the Dow Event Center on Tuesday and posted the shutout over the Saginaw Spirit, 4-0.
The victory gives the Hounds a three-games-to-none advantage in the best-of-seven Western Conference Quarter-Final series.
"I thought we did some good things. The game wasn't efficient as our last time out but it's hard to duplicate an effort like that especially when you get on the road playing against a team that's got a level of urgency" began Hounds Head Coach Sheldon Keefe.
"All that considered I thought we did a nice job" he continued.
The Spirit worked through couple power plays in the first ten minutes, but the Hounds were able to keep them at bay and remain scoreless.
With about twelve minutes to go, COLTON WHITE worked a nice defensive play on a charging Devon Paliani taking away any chance the Spirit forward would have had.
Seconds later, at 8:46 the Hounds would open the scoring.
TYLER GANLY's right point shot got to the net where MICHAEL BUNTING was, and on the second opportunity notched his 4th goal of the series for a 1-0 Greyhound lead.
Later on, BRANDON HALVERSON posted one of his eight first period saves by closing the bottom of the net on Connor Brown keeping the Hounds lead intact.
And while the Hounds unofficially notched the period's final ten shots on goal, they would reward themselves with a two goal lead.
With 2:25 remaining in the period, TYLER GANLY drove the net and put home the rebound from an initial SERGEY TOLCHINSKY drive for a 2-0 advantage through twenty minutes.
For Ganly, it was his 2nd point in the opening twenty minutes.
"In terms of first period, it was more of the finish in that period. Early on there was a lot of back and fourth and they were right with us shot for shot" started Keefe when asked about the opening twenty minutes.
"In the second half I thought we were able to sustain things more offensively and found a way to score a couple goals. I thought the finish of that period was really good but we knew they were going to come out hard and what we told the players was that it was the hardest period of the series was the first period tonight and it started that way. Saginaw came out hard but we found our way through that nicely" he continued.
The second period would see a single goal late, but it was with a midway through the period that BRANDON HALVERSON stood the tallest.
With 9:25 to go the Hounds net minder got his glove on a piece of a Mitchell Stephens attempt in close keeping the Spirit off the board.
Then at 17:32, and thirteen seconds after a Hounds penalty expired, BLAKE SPEERS roofed a shot from the left face-off circle for his 1st goal and point of the series elevating the Hounds lead to 3-0 through two periods.
"If there's one real negative today it's that we took too many penalties and the type they were, weren't good" commented Keefe.
"That's where a lot of the shots and chances came on the penalty kill"
The only goal of the third period came at 7:21 when NICK RITCHIE pressured Keaton Middleton at the Greyhound blue line resulting in possession.
The Hounds forward sprung through neutral ice and charged in all alone with the Spirit chasing in close before backhanding a shot to the blocker side for his 2nd goal of the series and a 4-0 lead.
The Houndsoutshot Saginaw 13-7 in the third, and 42-24 overall en route to the victory.
"I think we just have to recognize that we have an opportunity to close out the series. Ending a team's season is a very difficult thing to do especially on the road" said Keefe when asked if the Hounds have to have to guard against overconfidence heading into Game 4.
"We have some work ahead of us here, day off tomorrow and chance to look at video and make some adjustments and get ready to finish the job"
ATTENDANCE- 3,023
RED STAR THREE STARS OF THE GAME
1- SSM, Michael Bunting
2- SSM, Brandon Halverson
3- SAG, Evan Cormier
UP NEXT;
The Hounds will now have an off-day on Wednesday, before returning to action in Game 4 of this best-of-seven series on Thursday, April 2 with a chance to close out the series.
Game time is 7:11 p.m.
Fans can tune into the Bay Mills Resort & Casinos pre-game show on Rock 101 (101.3 FM, www.rock101.net) starting at 6:40 p.m.
Full Series Schedule is as follows:
GM 1W 5-1
GM 2W 8-2
GM 3W 4-0 (Hounds lead best-of-seven series 3-0)
GM 4Thursday, April 2 @ SAG (7:11 p.m.)
GM 5*Friday, April 3 @ SSM (7:07 p.m.)
GM 6*Sunday, April 5 @ SAG (4:00 p.m.)
GM 7*Tuesday, April 7 @ SSM (7:07 p.m.)
* indicated "if necessary"
Ontario Hockey League Stories from April 1, 2015
- 67's Lose in OT; Huge Game Friday at TD Place - Ottawa 67's
- IceDogs Get Huge Overtime Win - Niagara IceDogs
- Knights Weekend Update - London Knights
- A Look Ahead: Kick off Easter Weekend with a Pre-Game Tailgate Followed by Game 5 this Friday - Oshawa Generals
- SSM/SAG - Some of the Series Numbers - Soo Greyhounds
- Otters Take Game 4 in OT - Sarnia Sting
- Halverson, Hounds Shutout Spirit to Take Commanding 3-0 Lead - Soo Greyhounds
- Game Three Goes to Peterborough After 3-1 Win - Oshawa Generals
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