Greyhounds blank Petes to end homestand (Updated)

After struggling through two games to open a three-game homestand with a pair of losses, the Soo Greyhounds rebounded on Sunday night in wrapping up the week on home ice.

Backed by a 29-save performance from rookie goaltender Justin Nichols, the Greyhounds blanked the Peterborough Petes 4-0 on Sunday. The win keeps the Greyhounds in sixth in the OHL’s Western Conference.

Greyhounds coach Sheldon Keefe was pleased with the play of Nichols in the win. He added that he noticed a confidence level in Nichols beginning in the Greyhounds morning skate early in the day.

“I was really impressed with his (Justin's) game. He was calm and confident,” said Keefe. “I thought we did a good job in front of him but I don't think they were going to get anything from him. It really started in the morning (at pre-game skate), it was an optional skate but he (Justin) made it obvious he was on a mission today.”

Jared McCann, Colin Miller, Trent Mallette and Sergey Tolchinsky scored for the Greyhounds in the win.

Peterborough goaltender Andrew D’Agostini stopped 23 shots in the loss.

“(Our compete level) was ok for the most part in the game,” said Hull. “We had a pretty good first period and then they got that shorthanded goal and it seemed to deflate us a little bit. They’ve got some offensive power even though they’re missing some guys so they’ve still got some guys that can score goals and they were creating some god opportunities for them.”

For Keefe, the Greyhounds worked during the week on their ability to recover after mistakes and the work was put to use late in the second period when the Greyhounds found themselves tied up defensively and struggling to clear the zone.

“We had a chance to get the puck out a few times and didn't which we're not happy about but the message has been this week it's not about the mistake, it's about the recovery,” Keefe said. “If we're going to make a mistake, we better be all fully committed to doing what we can to make up for it and that's what we did"

The Greyhounds return to action on Thursday when they are in Windsor to open up their final road trip of the regular season against the Windsor Spitfires

Photo courtesy Jim Egan