Schumacher Paces Offence in Game 2 Loss
Published on March 24, 2013 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Soo Greyhounds News Release
OWEN SOUND, ON- The Soo Greyhounds have been quick on the trigger scoring the opening goal of both games in their series with Owen Sound, and have also played strong overall but it has yet to yield any rewards.
Holding leads of 1-0 and 2-1, the Hounds saw the Attack use three second period goals and an empty net marker in the final seconds of the third period to down them 4-2 on Saturday Night.
"We were dominant for a good portion of the game but dominance doesn't win games, goals do. Our inability to build on our lead cost us the game. Our effort was good all night but we didn't have much left in the third. One of the keys to success in the playoffs is fighting through that fatigue" began Hounds Head Coach Sheldon Keefe.
Just 59 seconds into the game, the Hounds found themselves shorthanded but saw two quick clears by DARNELL NURSE and relentless pressure on the point by TYLER GAUDET to help the Hounds come out of the Attack man advantage unscathed.
NICK COUSINS would open the scoring with his first of the playoff series 4:54 in.
With BRANDON ALDERSON skating up the right wing, he fed MICHAEL SCHUMACHER a pass that saw a 2-on-1 with COUSINS develop. The Hounds regular season MVP crashed the goal area and buried a pass past Binnington for a 1-0 lead.
That would be the only puck to get past the Owen Sound goalie in the period as he made 16 saves on 17 shots he faced including pad stops on both SCHUMACHER and RYAN SPROUL to shut the door on the Hounds offense any further.
With just over a minute to play in the period, after a Hounds defenceman fell leaving the zone open to an odd-man situation against, DARNELL NURSE slid along the ice and using his stick directed the puck to the corner avoiding a potential Attack chance and leaving the Hounds leading 1-0 after the first.
DAVID BROLL and Kyle Hope kicked off the second period with a first-a-cuff just twelve seconds in. For Broll that was his second fight of the night.
Later, and while the Hounds had one man in the box for a "too many men on the ice" minor, Nurse was tagged with an interference minor.
On the resulting 5-on-3, Zach Nastasiuk was sent a pass from MATT MURRAY's left where he would knock it down and pot his 2nd of the series, and tie the game.
The Hounds re-gained the lead 11:13 into the period.
With COLIN MILLER triggering the initial shot from the point, MICHAEL SCHUMACHER was in front for the rebound and fired it gloveside on Binnington to regain the lead, now 2-1. Schumacher has now factored a point on every goal for the Hounds so far in the series.
"He (Schumacher) appears to be really motivated to make a difference in this series. We need more from our other key guys" commented Keefe.
In the final 5:30 of the period Owen Sound capitalized for a pair of goals resulting in their first lead of the game.
At 14:24, four members of the Attack broke into the Hounds zone strong and after an initial shot, and resulting scramble in front Keevin Cutting drove to the front of the net and chipped the puck past MURRAY before he could grab it to tie the game 2-2.
Then with just over three minutes to play, an Attack was pushed into MURRAY almost simultaneously as a puck from Gemel Smith was fired home for a 3-2 Owen Sound lead after two periods.
Early in the third, SERGEY TOLCHINSKY cut in from the corner to Binnington's left, but was unable to sneak the puck past the Owen Sound goalie.
Through the third period, the Hounds limited the Attack to just five shots in total, and just three through the opening nine minutes.
With 2:34 to play, and the Hounds going on the powerplay, they would use their 30-second timeout, still searching for the equalizing goal.
Seconds later, and after pulling Murray for the extra attacker, RYAN SPROUL rung the puck off the crossbar.
The Hounds powerplay would expire, and the team would go 0-for-6 on the man advantage on the night.
"We spent plenty of time in their zone and had lots of possession. We need more pucks to the net and more hunger for rebounds" replied Keefe when asked what the Hounds had to do to be more successful on the powerplay.
Then with 13 seconds to go in regulation time, Daniel Catenacci hit Zach Nastasiuk with a pass and eventual empty net goal as Owen Sound went on to the 4-2 victory.
With the loss, the Hounds now trail the best-of-seven series 2-0, heading back to Sault Ste. Marie for Games 3 and 4.
"We can't be content with playing well and almost winning. We need to push through here and get our game to another level to win a big game on home ice" concluded Keefe.
The Hounds will have that opportunity this coming Monday, March 25th when they host the Attack in Game 3 of the series.
Opening face-off is set for 7:07 p.m.
Tickets are available at the Essar Centre Box Office, online at www.essarcentre.ca or by phone at 1.866.775.9422.
Ontario Hockey League Stories from March 24, 2013
- Generals Take 2-0 Series Lead - Oshawa Generals
- Gibson Shuts out Storm - Kitchener Rangers
- IceDogs Lose Nailbiter to Oshawa 4-3 - Niagara IceDogs
- Spirit Post Tremendous Effort in Game Two in London - Saginaw Spirit
- Shocked 'Em: Steelheads Rookies Lift Mississauga to Game 3 Victory - Brampton Steelheads
- Kingston Frontenacs Game Day Fast Facts: 2013 OHL Playoffs Round 1 Game 3 - Kingston Frontenacs
- Tickets Available for Game 2 Tonight - Kitchener Rangers
- Schumacher Paces Offence in Game 2 Loss - Soo Greyhounds
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