OHL Soo Greyhounds

Strong Special Teams for Hounds over Spirit

October 2, 2014 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Soo Greyhounds News Release


SAULT STE. MARIE, ON- Where there was a strong penalty kill, equally strong was the powerplay. And those two major factors spearked the difference between the Greyhounds and Saginaw Spirit on Wednesday Night.

Backed by three powerplay goals, the Hounds held of a three-goal third period by the visitors while skating to a 6-4 victory.

"Our penalty kill was great. We took far too many penalties early in the game and we gave them every opportunity to really take hold of the game because of the penalties we were taking but our penalty-killing was outstanding for the first two periods, and that gave us a chance" began Keefe.

"Our powerplay got their their opportunities and it didn't take long to fill the net and it was great to see" he continued.

It would be a powerplay goal that would get the scoring started 4:04 into the first period when SERGEY TOLCHINSKY one-timed a shot high past Nikita Serebryakov for the early lead.

BLAKE SPEERS and DAVID MILLER picked up the assists.

Shortly after gaining the lead, rearguard COLTON WHITE foiled an attempt by Jimmy Lodge helping keeping the Spirit at bay.

With about thirteen minutes to play ZACH SENYSHYN broke around the Saginaw defense in one of his many quality chances on the night.

His play was a topic of conversation when questioned post-game by media.

"I thought he was tremendous. Every time he had the puck, especially the early part of the game, it seemed like the rest of the game went into slow motion and he took off. He had a ton of chances and it's good to see him take off. If he keeps playing like that he's going to fill the net" commented the Hounds Head Coach.

In a period that saw a fast pace, and at times very few whistles between the clubs, it would be late before either team would capitalize again.

On Saginaw's twelfth shot of the game Connor Brown was the last player to touch the puck as the Spirit jammed at the side of the goal of Brandon Halverson to tie things up at 17:43.

Just twenty-four seconds later GUSTAV BOURAMMAN recorded his first-career OHL goal firing a high blast past a screen, and over top Serebryakov, to skate the Hounds through twenty minutes leading 2-1.

The Hounds killed off back-to-back shorthanded situations in the opening five minutes of the second period before cueing up a two goal cushion.

MICHAEL BUNTING, while down on the ice, rifled his 2nd goal of the season home at 7:47 to increase the Greyhounds lead to a pair of goals.

Midway through the period HALVERSON turned aside Luke Cairns in tight as one of his twenty-nine saves on the night.

Back-to-back powerplay goals late in the period extended the Hounds lead further.

First, ZACH SENYSHYN fired home a goal after the initial point shot came off the end boards at 18:30 and then BLAKE SPEERS helped the Hounds capitalize on a turnover before blasting a one-time from the left of the goal at 18:09.

"They were huge. It was good to come up with that kind of effort and resolve in response to our penalty killing. Our penalty kill was doing great work and unfortunately penalty-killing can't win you games all it does is keep you in it or keep the other team at bay. The powerplay has to go and produce to win games and they did their job" explained Keefe.

Hounds led 5-1 through two periods of play.

After Jimmy Lodge tipped a shot from in front at the 5:15 mark of the third period, MICHAEL BUNTING put home his second goal of the night when he spun and fired one past Serebryakov to make it a 6 to 2 game.

Kris Bennett, on the powerplay, and Dylan Sadowy, while shorthanded, rounded out the games scoring as Saginaw scored three goals in the third period before falling to the Hounds.

"I'm not upset with the third period. I'm upset with a couple specific incidents which gave them opportunities. Just getting caught up in some of the penalty stuff, the theatrics after the whistle and things like that we don't' need that. We are in well control of the game we don't' need to get caught up in that." continued Keefe.

"In terms of the play I didn't really have any problems with that" he concluded when asked about the third period.

SHOTS ON GOAL

Saginaw - 13-8-1233

Sault Ste. Marie - 12-15-734

ATTENDANCE - 3,951

RED STAR THREE STARS OF THE GAME

1- SSM, Michael Bunting

2- SSM, Blake Speers

3- SSM, Gustav Bouramman

The Hounds will cap of this week's schedule on the road this coming Friday, October 3rd at the Sudbury Wolves.

Game time is 7:30 p.m. at the Sudbury Memorial Community Arena.

Fans can tune in to Game #1 of the Bell Challenge Cup LIVE on our flagship station, Rock 101, located at 101.3 FM on their radio dial or online at http://stream.sovcomm.net:8001/rock101

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from October 2, 2014


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