Greyhounds pick up important points in Plymouth (Updated)

PLYMOUTH, MI – With the standings in the Ontario Hockey League’s West Division remaining tight, the Soo Greyhounds entered a short two-game road trip on Friday night that had added importance.

With the top three teams in the division separated by just three points entering action, a Greyhounds win would tighten up the division further and they did just that, picking up a 6-5 win over Plymouth to pull to within a point of the division-leading Whalers. Thanks to a Sarnia Sting loss in Ottawa on Friday night, the Greyhounds also pulled ahead of the Sting in the standings as well.

Friday’s results mean the Greyhounds jump to second in the West Division and sixth in the Western Conference.

Defenceman Ryan Sproul led the way for the Greyhounds with five points in the win. Sproul finished the night with a pair of goals and three assists in the win over the Whalers. Andrew Fritsch added a pair of goals and an assist in the win. Blueliner Colin Miller also had three assists for the Greyhounds. OHL player of the month Nick Cousins set up a pair of goals for the Greyhounds. Brandon Alderson and Michael Schumacher also scored.

Goaltender Matt Murray stopped seven of 10 shots for the Greyhounds before being pulled in favour of Justin Nichols midway through the opening period after the Whalers pulled out to a 3-1 lead. Nichols stopped 34 of 36 shots the rest of the way.

Vincent Trocheck scored a pair of goals and assisted on another for Plymouth in the loss. Ryan Hartman had a goal and an assist while Mitchell Heard and former Greyhound Gianluca Curcuruto also scored.

Matt Mahalak stopped 12 of 14 shots in the opening period for the Whalers before making way for Alex Nedeljkovic after the first period. Mahalak was injured after the Greyhounds second first-period goal late in the opening frame and did not return to the bench. Nedeljkovic stopped 21 of 25 shots in relief.

The Greyhounds went 3-for-9 on the power play in the win while the Whalers were 2-for-7.

The Greyhounds wrap up their two-game trip on Saturday night in Saginaw against the Spirit.

For more information on the OHL's nine games from Friday night, click here