OHL Soo Greyhounds

Let the Good Times "Sproul" #55 Notches OT Winner as Hounds Tie Series

March 28, 2013 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Soo Greyhounds News Release


SAULT STE. MARIE, ON- MATT MURRAY and the Soo Greyhounds turned the Essar Centre into a frenzy on Wednesday Night, converting a powerplay goal in the final minute of the first overtime to down the Owen Sound Attack 1-0.

The win evens the best-of-seven Western Conference Quarter-Final series at two wins each.

"It was a fantastic hockey game from start to finish.  Both teams battled hard.  Everything you want to see in a playoff hockey game was there tonight - big hits, great goaltending, battles, fast pace.  It was an outstanding game" began Hounds Head Coach Sheldon Keefe.

From the drop of the puck, the Hounds set a pace that they have displayed all series thus far.  With a flurry in the opening seconds of the game, the locals went on to post a 17-8 shot advantage in the first.

Forward TYLER GAUDET kept the pace going for the Hounds with hard work down low before later being called for a minor penalty, and upon exiting the box displayed good hands while going end-to-end for one of the Hounds many chances in the first.

With just 8:08 to go MICHAEL SCHUMACHER stripped his man in the neutral zone before wiring a shot that was stopped by Binnington to keep both sides staring at goose-eggs.

Moments later, MURRAY was equal to the test when Gemel Smith fed Holden Cook who's shot was turned aside by the Hound puckstoppers glove in one of his eight saves of the period and thirty-six on the night.

The scoreless first was just a preview of the goaltending battle fans would see in Game 4.

Both teams skated through the second period with a pair of advantages but the powerplay's would remain ineffective as far as offense until the game winner later on the night.

Physically the Hounds brought the 4,652 fans alive when DARNELL NURSE pasted the Attack's Daniel Catenacci at the side of the visitors bench, and then CHRIS BUONOMO placed an open-ice hit on Kurtis Gabriel later-on.

Along with killing off an Owen Sound penalty in the final five minutes of the period, both teams skated through 40 minutes remaining scoreless.

Just 3:13 into the third, MURRAY would be tested by the Attack's Holden Cook but remained steady while registering another one of his saves on the night.

"He went save for save with one of the top goaltenders in the world.  As good as we played and as hard as we played he was right there every time we had a lapse, every time we needed a save, everytime they got momentum he was right there and looked calm and confident" said Keefe about his goalie's performance.

"Again, all the way through our lineup it was outstanding. All the right way through to our fans, it was just a great night to be associated with the Soo Greyhounds" Keefe continued.

With less than three minutes to play in regulation, DARNELL NURSE's point shot later sat in front of Binnington but BRANDON ALDERSON was held back from a second opportunity when Nathan Chiarlitti played the OA forward perfectly allowing the Owen Sound goalie to cover up the puck.

Simply put, while posting offensive chances at both ends, the Hounds and Attack went end-to-end in a physical, emotional and highly contested game through sixty minutes still scoreless.

"Games like this, efforts like this - you go from a team with no playoff experience and all of a sudden you have lived it, felt it.  They (Hounds' players) know how it feels, they know what they have to do, they know how you have to feel after a game like this.  They left everything out there tonight, I'm incredibly proud of everyone of our guys.  It was just an outstanding hockey game" stated Keefe when asked about the feeling of the game.

And for the second time this series, at least one overtime period was going to be the deciding factor.

The Hounds were handed a too many men on the ice penalty 6:54 into overtime but the penalty kill remained perfect, along with going 4-for-4 on the night.

It didn't come without a great Owen Sound chance in the dying seconds of the man advantage that saw MURRAY post a pad stop.

After Owen Sound's Chris Bigras was called for a high stick with under three minutes to play, the deciding play would come.

With the Hounds buzzing in the offensive zone, RYAN SPROUL kept in an Attack attempted clear before blasting the puck from the top of the circle to the right of Binnington and past his blocker side, erupting the Essar Centre in the Hounds 1-0 victory.

BRANDON ALDERSON and COLIN MILLER had assists on the play.

"It was as intense and competitive as a game I've been a part of (as a coach) - both teams.  Hats off to Owen Sound for battling hard tonight as well.  They competed hard as well.  I felt the right team won" concluded the Hounds bench boss.

With the victory the series, now tied 2-2, will shift to Game 5 Friday Night (March 29) at Owen Sound.  Puck drops at 7:30 p.m. while all the action can be heard on Rock 101 starting at 7 p.m. - or watched live on Shaw Cable Channel 10 starting at 7:30 p.m.

Game 6 returns to the Soo this coming Sunday, March 31st at 7:07 p.m. (ticket information including important STH information listed below).

ATTENDANCE - 4,652

RED STAR THREE STARS OF THE GAME

1 - Matt Murray, SSM

2 - Jordan Binnington, OS

3 - Ryan Sproul, SSM

GAME 6 TICKET INFORMATION

Tickets for Sunday's game will go on-sale Thursday, March 28th at 10 a.m. to the general public and to Season Ticket Holders who want their tickets but DID Not get the playoff package.

** Season Tickets NOT picked up will be released Friday, March 29th @ 5 p.m.

Box Office Hours are:

Thursday, March 28 - 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Friday, March 29 - 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Saturday, March 30 - 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sunday, March 31 - beginning at 10 a.m.

Check out the Soo Greyhounds Statistics



Ontario Hockey League Stories from March 28, 2013


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