Wolves Drop 5th
October 9, 2014 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Sudbury Wolves News Release
The Wolves' losing skid continued in Sault Ste Marie on Wednesday night as the Wolves dropped a 6-1 decision to the #1 ranked Soo Greyhounds. The Hounds won their fifth straight contest to open the season and are now rated as the second-best team in the country. The Kyle Dubas-built Hounds are now the early season favourite to win the league title and are still without the services of Darnell Nurse who is starting the season with the Edmonton Oilers.
The Wolves played a solid opening period and took an early lead on a short-handed goal by forward Nathan Pancel. It was Pancel's first goal of the season. Pancel also had another short-handed breakaway in the third period but was foiled on his second attempt. Shots on goal in the first period ended 14-11 in favour of the Hounds and the game was tied 1-1 after one.
The Greyhounds took advantage of seven power plays in the final two frames. The Hounds scored three power play goals and broke the game wide open with four unanswered goals in the second period to take a 5-1 commanding lead after two periods of play. The Hounds scored the only goal of the third period in the final minute of the contest while on the power play.
Wolves' goaltender Troy Timpano was outstanding as time and time again the 16 year old youngster was left alone to face would-be Greyhound goal scorers. The Wolves defence struggled against the speedy Soo forwards and only some solid goaltending kept the game in single-digits. The Hounds fired a season high 52 shots at the Sudbury goal.
The Wolves were only able to muster 16 shots on goal because of the Hounds smothering team defence and partly because of the Wolves' lack of offensive attack -- especially on the power play where the Wolves were zero for four with the man advantage. The Wolves now have 3 power play goals on 25 opportunities so far this season for a 12% success ratio.
The Wolves were without the services of veteran forward Nick Baptiste and the Wolves lost 19 year old forward Jacob Harris in the second period with an undisclosed injury. Harris did not return and the Wolves played the remainder of the game with just nine forwards. The Wolves were also without the services of injured defencemen Evan deHaan and Chase Hawley and forward Brady Pataki.
The Wolves only played with nine forwards from the mid-way point of the game as injured forwards Brody Milne, Ivan Kashtanov and Brody Silk saw limited playing time. Fatigue was a factor as the Wolves took penalties and found themselves on the penalty kill for 10 minutes in the third period alone. Rookie defenceman Jonathan Masters engaged in his second fight in back-to-back games as the Thunder Bay native continues to play tough for the Wolves.
In other action on Wednesday night, the unranked Belleville Bulls outshot the Plymouth Whalers 54-26 en route to a 4-1 victory in Belleville. The Bulls are now one of the top-ranked teams in the Eastern Conference.
The Wolves will be looking to snap their five-game losing streak this Friday night when they host the Owen Sound Attack. Game time is 7:30 and there are plenty of good seats available for Friday's game.
Ontario Hockey League Stories from October 9, 2014
- Marchese Lifts Spits to Dramatic OT Win - Windsor Spitfires
- Steelheads Preview: October 10 - 13 - Brampton Steelheads
- 17th Annual Teddy Bear Toss December 7th - Sarnia Sting
- Wolves Drop 5th - Sudbury Wolves
- Kingston Frontenacs Fast Facts - Kingston Frontenacs
- Kurtis MacDermid Returned from Manchester - Erie Otters
- Konecny 67's News Captain - Ottawa 67's
- Bulls Continue Hot Start to Season - Belleville Bulls
- Dominant Second Period Paves Way for Hounds over Wolves - Soo Greyhounds
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