Tyler Seguin's four points, Matt Hackett's 41 saves, good special teams key to victory

February 19, 2010 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Plymouth Whalers News Release


PLYMOUTH, MI -- Tyler Seguin scored the hat trick and added an assist as the Plymouth Whalers defeated the Mississauga St. Michael's Majors, 6-2, in an Ontario Hockey League game played Friday night before 2,297 at Compuware Arena.

Seguin - who leads the OHL with 42 goals and 52 assists for 94 points in 53 games - had plenty of help from his teammates. Goaltender Matt Hackett stopped 41-of-43 shots as the game's third star and the Whalers won the battle of special teams, going 2-for-6 on the power play while stopping 9-of-11 Majors power plays (including three separate 3-on-5's).

Plymouth improves to 34-23-0-2, good for 70 points and fourth spot in the Western Conference playoff race. The Whalers picked up a point on third place Kitchener (now 36-16-3-2, 77points), who lost, 4-3 in overtime, to Guelph on Friday. Mississauga is now 37-15-4-2.

Besides Seguin's fifth hat trick of the season, AJ Jenks (21st), Phil McRae (16th) and James Livingston (16th) scored single goals for the Whalers. Casey Cizikas (24th) and David Corrente (sixth) replied for Mississauga.

The Whalers led, 2-0, after one period, but the work of the penalty killers set the tone in stopping the Mississauga power play on penalties to Seguin at 4:58, Leo Jenner at 8:30 and Jay Gilbert at 10:16.

"We had a couple of big kills and we knew they were crucial early on," Livingston said. "We went right to work after that and our power play got an awesome goal."

Seguin started the scoring at 13:48 for Plymouth, picking up a pass from Robbie Czarnik and snapping a shot from the left circle that Majors goaltender JP Anderson got his shoulder on, but the puck caromed off him and into the net.

Jenks scored at 16:19 of the period on the Whalers first power of the evening, threading a hard, low shot from the high slot through an effective Joe Gaynor screen in front of Anderson.

After Cizikas finally scored on a power play for Mississauga at 3:02 of the second period to cut the Plymouth lead to 2-1, Seguin scored a disputed goal at 6:55. Taking a stretch pass from Czarnik, Seguin skated in all alone on Anderson and stuffed a backhand at the Majors goaltender. After a lengthy delay, it was ruled that Anderson's pad was over the goal line and the goal counted.

"I had so much time," Seguin said of the goal. "I wanted to deke as many times as I could and then I went backhand. I couldn't see the puck in the net, but I could see the goaltender's pad and it was behind the goal line, so I know it (the puck) was in."

Leading 3-1 at that point, Plymouth killed off another penalty to Beau Schmitz at 8:22 before scoring again at 13:02, as McRae took Garrett Meurs' pass from the right circle and scored from just outside the left side of the crease past Anderson. Plymouth led, 4-1, after forty minutes.

The Whalers extended the lead to 6-1 in the third period on Seguin's hat trick at 6:29 and Livingston's re-direct of a Ryan Hayes' shot 0:29 later. Corrente scored at 10:52 for the Majors to complete the scoring.

Mississauga outshot Plymouth, 43-27.

Plymouth's goal over the final ten games of the regular season is to play as well as possible and gain traction for the playoffs.

"It's getting to be crunch time right now (as) we're getting ready for the playoffs," Livingston said. "I've very excited. We've got a special team here, and great group of guys."

Plymouth hosts Sarnia on Saturday night at 7:05pm at Compuware Arena (6:45pm, WSDP, 88.1FM).

For information on Whalers ticket packages, including the Bob Evans' Great Save 4 for $44 Pack, or to plan a group event, visit plymouthwhalers.com or call 734-453-8400.



Ontario Hockey League Stories from February 19, 2010


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