Greyhounds extend winning streak to four games (Updated)

The Soo Greyhounds proved something on Friday night.

The Greyhounds beat the Kitchener Rangers 4-2 at the Essar Centre on Friday night. The Greyhounds avoided what had become a recurring theme early on in the season by opening up a 2-0 lead in the first period and not trailing at any point in the game. In their first five games of the season, the Greyhounds were forced to come from behind in each.

“We had to be smart because they (Kitchener) are a great team and when you give them opportunities, they’re going to make you pay,” said Greyhounds coach Mike Stapleton of having to hold a lead. “That’s where Matt (Murray) came in. He saved us a few times when we had some miscommunications.

Murray made 39 saves in the win, marking the sixth straight game the veteran goaltender stopped at least 30 shots.

Sergey Tolchinsky scored a pair of goals to lead the Greyhounds offensively in the win. The first of Tolchinsky’s two goals came on the power play in the opening period and marked the first power play goal given up by the Rangers this season in five games.

“They have a group mentality in the room and we’ve had (different) guys stepping up here and there and that’s what it’s all about,” Stapleton said. “Sergey has tremendously fast hands and he’s really patient. He’s a smart player and he showed it tonight.”

Brandon Alderson added a goal and an assist in the win while David Broll set up a pair of goals for the Greyhounds in the win. Dylan Staples also scored for the Greyhounds, who improve to 5-1-0-0 with the victory.

Matt Puempel scored a goal and set up the other for the Rangers in the loss. Radek Faksa also scored for the Rangers.

The Rangers have struggled offensively early on this season with just 12 goals in five games.

“The two areas of concern are when we enter into the offensive zone and once we do get pucks to the net, we’ve got some big guys that aren’t willing to stick their nose in there and get dirty,” said Rangers coach Steve Spott of the offensive struggles. “If you don’t do that, you’re not going to score at this level. The league’s too good.”

Rangers’ goaltender john Gibson stopped 29 shots in the loss, which drops the Rangers to 3-2.

The Rangers are in the midst of an eight-game road trip that takes the team to Saginaw on Saturday night. Renovations at the arena in Kitchener forced the team to start on the road prior to their home opener on Oct. 19 against Oshawa.

The Greyhounds wrap up a three-game homestand on Saturday night when they host the Sarnia Sting at 7:07 p.m.

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OTHER SCORES

In Erie, Connor McDavid scored a pair of goals as the Erie Otters beat the Brampton Battalion 5-1. Luke Cairns and Stephan Harper scored a goal and an assist each in the win while Connor Brown and J.P. Labardo had two assists each. Johnny McGuire also scored. Blake Clarke scored the lone goal for Brampton.

In Sarnia, Joseph Blandisi had a pair of goals as the Owen Sound Attack beat the Sarnia Sting 4-3. Attack goaltender Jordan Binnington stopped 30 shots in the win while Gemel Smith set up a pair of goals. Charles Sarault had the lone goal for Sarnia.

In Saginaw, Christopher Festarini stopped all 25 shots he faced as the Niagara IceDogs beat the Saginaw Spirit 4-0. Anthony DiFruscia had a goal and an assist in the win while Steven Shipley, Brook Hiddink and Mike Robinson also scored.

In Guelph, Justin Auger’s goal with five seconds remaining in regulation time lifted the Guelph Storm to a 5-4 win over the Plymouth Whalers. Auger finished the night with three goals while Ryan Horvat and Patrick Watling had a pair of assists each. Connor Carrick and Tom Wilson had two assists each for the Whalers.

In London, Matt Rupert and Max Domi had two goals and an assist each as the London Knights beat the Windsor Spitfires 8-2. Josh Anderson had a goal and two assists while Alex Broadhurst also scored twice in the win. Brett Welychka had a goal and an assist for the Knights while Seth Griffith, Bo Horvat and Ryan Rupert added two assists each. Jordan Maletta and Kerby Rychel scored for Windsor in the loss.

In Mississauga, Mark Scheifele scored the lone shootout goal as the Barrie Colts beat the Mississauga Steelheads 4-3. Anthony Camara had a goal and an assist in the win while Scheifele contributed a pair of assists in regulation time.  Riley Brace had two goals and an assist for the Steelheads.

In Oshawa, Tyler Biggs and Michael Dal Colle had a goal and an assist each as the Oshawa Generals beat the Kingston Frontenacs 6-4. Boone Jenner added three assists while Cole Cassels and Lucas Lessio added two assists each. Ryan Kujawinski had a goal and two assists for the Frontenacs.

Photo courtesy James Egan Photography

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