Greyhounds struggle to finish in loss

Scoring continues to be an issue for the Soo Greyhounds as the team opened up a three-game road trip.

The Greyhounds dropped a 4-1 decision to the Niagara IceDogs at the Meridian Centre in St. Catharines.

The Greyhounds outshot the IceDogs 33-26 in the loss.

“We generated some quality chances in the second (period) and quite a few in the third,” Greyhounds Coach Drew Bannister said. “We’ve been working on a few things trying to generate (more offence) and I saw a few things in that way. In the end you can generate them but you have to finish them off.

“One of the issues tonight was not finishing when we needed to,” Bannister added.

Bannister noted the Greyhounds improved as the game went on.

“We played fairly well defensively,” Bannister said. “We were a little tentative in the first period but as the game went on we were much better.”

“As a group, the forwards down low were way more tenacious on the puck (in the third period) and getting it to the net,” Bannister said.

The Greyhounds outshot the IceDogs 17-8 in the third period.

Greyhounds goaltender Brandon Halverson stopped 22 shots.

“I thought the first two goals he would like to have back and they’re pucks that we’d like to see saved but in the same sense he made some big saves to keep it 1-0 and 2-0 at that time,” Bannister said.

“In the same sense, even if those two don’t go in, it’s still a 2-1 game so we have to help him out on a nightly basis,” Bannister added.

Keigan Goetz had the lone goal for the Greyhounds.

Niagara goaltender Brent Moran made 32 saves while Josh Ho-Sang, Brendan Perlini, Anthony DiFruscia and Blake Siebenaler completed the IceDogs scoring. Christopher Paquette assisted on two goals for Niagara.

Bannister said the plan is to go with Joseph Raaymakers on Saturday night before making a decision after the game on who will start Sunday’s game.

The Greyhounds return to action on Saturday in Erie against the Otters before wrapping the trip up on Sunday afternoon in Kitchener against the Rangers.

Game Notes: Sophomore forward Tim Gettinger left the game in the second period with an upper-body injury. Following the game, Bannister said the extent of the injury wasn’t yet clear.

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OTHER SCORES

In Erie, Alex DeBrincat’s goal at 17:54 of the third period was the game-winner as the Erie Otters held on for a 3-2 win over the Kitchener Rangers. DeBrincat’s goal was into an empty net with the Otters leading 2-1 at the time. Adam Mascherin made things close for the Rangers with a goal 52 seconds after the empty-netter but the Rangers couldn’t tie the game. DeBrincat had a goal and an assist while Taylor Raddysh assisted on a pair of goals. Kyle Maksimovich and Jakob Mayenschein also scored for the Otters. Rangers goaltender Luke Opilka stopped 36 shots while Mascherin had a goal and an assist. Ryan MacInnis also scored for Kitchener.

In North Bay, Max Kislinger scored a pair of goals as the North Bay Battalion beat the Hamilton Bulldogs 7-1. Mike Amadio added a goal and two assists while defenceman Cam Dineen also had a three-point night with three assists. Daniil Verity, Brett McKenzie, Brett McKenzie and Kyle Wood also scored for the Battalion. Kyle Potts assisted on a pair of goals. Ben Gleason had the lone goal for Hamilton.

In Peterborough, a 41-save performance by Matthew Mancina lifted the Peterborough Petes to a 3-1 win over the Sarnia Sting. Steven Lorentz had a goal and an assist while also winning 10 of 16 faceoffs for Peterborough. Adam Timleck and Hunter Garlent also scored for the Petes. Anthony Salinitri had the lone goal for the Sting.

In Barrie, Mackenzie Blackwood made 34 saves and Kevin Labanc had a goal and two assists as the Barrie Colts beat the Owen Sound Attack 4-1. Julius Nattinen and Brendan Lemieux added a goal and an assist each for the Colts. Justin Scott also scored for Barrie. Keenan Reynolds scored for Owen Sound.