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Hounds continue undefeated streak, end Wolves' streak (14 photos)

The Soo Greyhounds returned from the Christmas break looking to extend their unbeaten streak to five games. The Greyhounds not only did that, but they ended the Sudbury Wolves nine-game winning streak as they beat the Wolves 3-1 at the Essar Centre.

The Soo Greyhounds returned from the Christmas break looking to extend their unbeaten streak to five games.

The Greyhounds not only did that, but they ended the Sudbury Wolves nine-game winning streak as they beat the Wolves 3-1 at the Essar Centre.

A power play goal by Sergey Tolchinsky in the first period and a shorthanded goal by Patrick Watling in the third period proved to be the difference for the Greyhounds in the win.

“It’s fair to say,” said greyhounds coach Sheldon Keefe of special teams being a factor in the win. “We talked about that being a factor coming into the game. We want to be plus-one or better and we wound up being plus-two with the shorthanded goal.  I don’t really care much for percentages. If we’re 1-for-8 and the other team is 0-for-2, I’m ok with that. I’m more about differential in goals for and goals against. That’s what makes the difference in games.”

The Greyhounds killed off a five-on-three Sudbury advantage for 1:35 in the win as well.

“Our penalty killing was outstanding,” said Keefe. “It was just gritty efforts by our guys. They executed really well a lot of the things we wanted to do. The addition of Dylan Corson really helped on a night like tonight. All around, it was a gritty effort for our penalty killers.”

Wolves coach Paul Fixter credited the Greyhounds with capitalizing on their opportunities in the win.

“We didn’t score on our opportunity and they did,” said Wolves coach Paul Fixter. “They score with 1.5 seconds left in the first. We had an opportunity to score with one second left in the second period and we didn’t. Those are key points in the game when all is said and done.”

The Wolves bench boss added that his team didn’t show the energy that the Greyhounds did in the game.

“They had a little more energy than us,” said Fixter. “I’m not saying we were tired but we looked like a tired team tonight. We’ll learn from it and move on.”

Jean Dupuy had the other goal for the Greyhounds in the win.

Keefe spoke highly of the line of Dupuy, Corson and Trent Mallette in the win.

“They had some energy and there’s a lot of speed on the wings there with Dupuy and Mallette,” said Keefe of the trio. “They were keeping pucks in deep and scored a goal for us to start the game.”

Greyhounds goaltender Matt Murray stopped 20 shots in the win.

Fixter credited the Greyhounds offensive zone play with being a factor in frustrating the Wolves in the game.

“Their offensive zone play was very effective and they cycled the puck,” Fixter said. “Tolchinsky had his own way and did what he wanted to out there. They took it to us pretty good.”

Mathew Campagna scored for the Wolves while goaltender Franky Palazzese stopped 23 shots.

The win improves the Greyhounds record to 25-8-1-3 with the win while the Wolves record falls to 19-10-3-3.

Next up, the Greyhounds host the Saginaw Spirit on Tuesday afternoon at 2 p.m. at the Essar Centre.

Photo courtesy SooToday.com's Kenneth Armstrong


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Brad Coccimiglio

About the Author: Brad Coccimiglio

A graduate of Loyalist College’s Sports Journalism program, Brad Coccimiglio’s work has appeared in The Hockey News as well as online at FoxSports.com in addition to regular freelance work with SooToday before joining the team full time.
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