OHL Soo Greyhounds

Powerplay Pushes Hounds Past Attack in Game 3

Published on March 26, 2013 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Soo Greyhounds News Release


Nearly three-years to the day since the last post-season game at the Essar Centre, playoff hockey returned to Sault Ste. Marie on Monday night.

Hosting the Owen Sound Attack in Game 3 of their Western Conference Quarter-Final series, the Hounds would use three quick powerplay goals to start the second period overlooking a one-goal deficit and taking a lead they would never relinquish.

A boisterous home crowd was witness to an intense, hard-hitting start to the game, similar to how the series has played out thus far.  Through the opening seven minutes of the game, the sole shot on goal was in the Greyhounds favour.

"That's what this series has been like.  It hasn't been your typical first round matchup.  It has been two teams fighting hard and both teams understanding the difference between the two is very, very small.  Because of that every play, every shift matters.  Both teams are playing hard.  Tonight things went our way, but again we are still under the circumstances where we have to win the next game" began Hounds Head Coach Sheldon Keefe.

During an Owen Sound 4-on-3 powerplay near the midway point of the first period, defenceman DARNELL NURSE exemplified the defensive plays needed blocking an Attack shot to erase any chance moving forward.

The Hounds had their first powerplay of the game shortly after, but it was following the man advantage their best chances around Jordan Binnington would show, but fail to capitalize.

After building up shot advantages of 8-2, and 11-4, MATT MURRAY kept things scoreless extending his right leg to turn aside the Attack's Holden Cooke.

With twenty-seconds to play in the period, and while 4-on-4, Owen Sound would strike first.  After Murray made the first two stops, Gamel Smith was in front to lift the puck overtop the Hounds netminder for a 1-0 Attack lead after twenty-minutes.

The Hounds would tie things up on the powerplay early in the second period, with a single second remaining on a Artur Gavus penalty that carried over from the first.

NICK COUSINS scored his 2nd goal of the playoffs redirecting a RYAN SPROUL point shot while in tight to tie things 1-1.

Then, a powerplay that entered the game 0-for-11 in the series would factor into the game in a big way for the Hounds.  After calling a timeout before facing a 5-on-3 advantage they would capitalize.

First, MICHAEL SCHUMACHER pounced on the rebound from a Sproul shot at 2:34 before COUSINS chipped the puck past Binnington while running out of room from the right of the goal at 2:48, as the locals quickly made it a 3-1 game.

The Hounds had scored on three of their first powerplay chances in taking the lead.

"It was an area we have focused a lot on in the last 24 hours preparing for this game was the powerplay.  A lot of times it's not about what you do differently, it's about spending time on it and the players being aware of just how important it is.  We got some bounces tonight which I think we earned those bounces through our effort in the first two games.  We got those bounces tonight and it was real good see our best players make some big time plays that early in the period to take control of the game" commented Keefe on his team's start of the second period.

The physical play continued from the home side including a big time open-ice hip check in the neutral zone by Hounds captain COLIN MILLER on Gavrus.

After the Hounds killed off back-to-back penalties against, the visitor's Gamel Smith scored his 2nd goal of the night putting a rebound home at 8:19 to cut the lead to 3-2 after forty minutes.

DARNELL NURSE made it a 4-2 game early in the third (2:49) rushing up the right wing and sneaking the puck past the glove side of Binnington.

Twenty-nine seconds after a Hounds four minute powerplay, the Attack made it a one-goal game once again.

Kyle Hope redirected a point show low past Murray cutting the Hounds lead to 4-3.

While the play moved into the Hounds zone considerably in the third period, the Hounds held their opponent to just three shots through the first twelve minutes of the third period while maintaining the lead.

"They did take over but I think if you watch any game of this magnitude, with teams protecting a lead, you go into a bit of a shell it's just natural as much as you talk to them about not doing that.  There's a natural tendency where you tighten up and the other team takes over the game.  They are laying it all on the line but for us it was about protecting the middle of the ice and try to keep things on the perimeter.  We found a way to get through it" said Keefe when questioned about Owen Sound's third period pressure.

With the net empty at the Owen Sound end of the ice, the visitors thought they had tied the score with 1:41 to play.  On a call originally signalled a goal by the official standing behind the Greyhound goal despite the puck lying in the corner to Murray's right, a lengthy video review overturned that decision leaving the Hounds in the lead 4-3.

ANDREW FRITSCH looked to seal the empty net cushion marker with 50 seconds to play but hit the post of the empty net.

A Hounds penalty seconds later saw the Hounds shorthanded late, but with just 17 seconds to play BRANDON ALDERSON netted the shorthanded, empty net goal as the Hounds skated to a 5-3 victory.

The win cut the Attack lead in the Western Conference Quarter-Final series to 2-games-to-1.

Game 4 of the series is set for this coming Wednesday, March 27th (7:07 p.m.) at the Essar Centre here in the Soo.

Tickets are available at the Essar Centre Box Office (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.), online at www.essarcentre.ca or by phone at 1.866.775.9422.

"Just like there was no reason to panic when we lost the first two, there is no reason to get excited that we won this one.  We understand now that Owen Sound is going to come out play extremely hard for an opportunity to go home to win the series.  For us it's an opportunity to ensure the series comes back here.  We have to be much better (Wednesday)" conclude Keefe regarding Game 4 of the series.

FAN BUS?

Fans interested in following the Hounds to Game 5 of the series this coming Friday, March 29 are asked to contact Val Trainor at 705.942.9899 for complete details.

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from March 26, 2013


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