Greyhounds blank Colts in Barrie (Updated)

The Soo Greyhounds opened up a three-game road trip Thursday night much the same way they finished up their homestand five days earlier; without giving up a goal.

After shutting out the Windsor Spitfires last Saturday night at the Essar Centre, the Greyhounds travelled to Barrie on Thursday and blanked the Colts 1-0 in the first of three games on the road this weekend.

The Greyhounds haven’t given up a goal since the second period of their home game against Plymouth last Friday, a span of 144:03. Goaltender Matt Murray has been in goal for the entire period, making 38 saves in Thursday’s win in Barrie.

“Obviously it was another night where he was perfect and tested a lot more than he was the other day (against Windsor),” said Greyhounds coach Sheldon Keefe. “He just looks solid and comfortable in the net. Even when they pushed hard, he just made it look easy because he’s so comfortable and confident in the net. It’s really nice to see.”

Keefe spoke highly of the Colts, who have struggled of late, despite being expected to be among the elite teams in the Eastern Conference.

“Despite the fact that they’ve been on the wrong side of games the last little while, that’s a very good Barrie team that made life really tough on us tonight,” said Keefe. “They made us earn (the win). Our guys have shown lots of push. Even though we’ve been outplayed, we’re hanging on and finding ways to relieve pressure and Matt has given us some saves when there’s been breakdowns.”

Blake Speers had the lone goal for the Greyhounds in the win. Colts goaltender MacKenzie Blackwood stopped 28 shots in the loss.

“It was one of those road games where you just find a way to win,” said Keefe. “The guys competed hard and battled and found a way.”

Keefe gave his players credit for the defensive effort of late, which has shown improvement sice the beginning of the season.

“It comes just from the buy-in of our players,” Keefe said of the defensive effort. “Our guys are just working hard and plying the way we want them to play. We still need to clean up some of our decisions with the puck that are, at times, putting us defensively in tough spots. We play a pretty simple defensive game.”

The Greyhounds enjoy an off-day on Friday before taking on the Peterborough Petes on Saturday night. The three-game trip wraps up on Sunday night in Oshawa against the Generals.