Whalers Sweep Guelph in 3-2 Victory, Get Kitchener Next

Published on March 30, 2007 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Plymouth Whalers News Release


GUELPH - Daniel Ryder's goal with 27 seconds left in regulation snapped a 2-2 tie and the Plymouth Whalers defeated the Guelph Storm, 3-2, to sweep the Storm in four games on Thursday night in an Ontario Hockey League Western Conference Quarterfinal Series. 3,178 watched the game at the Guelph Sports and Entertainment Centre.

James Neal figured in on all three Plymouth goals as the game's first star with two goals and an assist. Plymouth defenseman Ryan McGinnis and Steve Ward added two assists each. Whalers goaltender Jeremy Smith stopped 20-of-22 Guelph shots to backstop the victory.

Drew Doughty and Luke Pither scored in the first period for Guelph, who held leads in three of the four games against Plymouth.

Trailing 2-0 in the second period, Neal scored his first goal of the evening and third of the playoffs at 10:36 of the second period when he skated end-to-end and beat Guelph goaltender Thomas McCollum with a hard shot from the right hash mark.

Neal tied the game on a Plymouth power play at 9:29 of the third period when the Whalers kept the puck pinned in the Guelph zone. Neal scored on a shot from the right circle after receiving passes from point men Ward and Chris Terry.

The game-winning goal came at 19:33 after Plymouth shot the puck in deep in the Guelph zone, beyond the goal line. Dan Collins found Neal behind the net, who fed Ryder at the lower rim of the left circle. Ryder - last year's OHL Playoff MVP for Peterborough - scored with a well-placed shot.

As they have been all season long, Plymouth penalty killers played well, going 11-for-12 in the game against the Guelph power play.

Plymouth advances to the Western Conference Semi-Finals and will play the Kitchener Rangers, who eliminated Sarnia in four games. The dates and time of the series are as follows.

Game 1 - Friday, April 6 - Kitchener at Plymouth at 7:05 p.m.

Game 2 - Sunday, April 8 - Plymouth at Kitchener at 7:00 p.m.

Game 3 - Tuesday, April 10 - Kitchener at Plymouth at 7:05 p.m.

Game 4 - Wednesday, April 11 - Plymouth at Kitchener at 7:30 p.m.

Games 5-7 if necessary:

Game 5 - Friday, April 13 - Kitchener at Plymouth at 7:05 p.m.

Game 6 - Sunday, April 15 - Plymouth at Ktichener at 7:00 p.m.

Game 7 - Monday, April 16 - Kitchener at Plymouth at 7:05 p.m.

Tickets for the series are available by calling the Compuware Sports Arena at (734) 453-8400 or by going to Ticketmaster at www.ticketmaster.com.

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from March 30, 2007


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