Series stranglehold for Greyhounds

GUELPH, ONT. – One of the participant in the Ontario Hockey League’s Western Conference final could be determined on Tuesday night.

With a 6-1 win on Sunday evening, the Soo Greyhounds took a 3-0 series lead on the Guelph Storm in their Western Conference semi-final series at the Sleeman Centre.

“You really need to get a win on the road to get control of a series,” said Greyhounds Coach Sheldon Keefe. “It took a really solid effort from our guys to get that, which is what we knew we were going to have to bring. Our guys did what we needed them to do today.”

The Greyhounds took a 2-0 lead through one period before blowing the game open with four goals in the second period en route to the victory.

Justin Bailey and Nick Ritchie had a goal and two assists to pace the Greyhounds offensively. Keigan Goetz, Blake Speers, Jared McCann and Darnell Nurse also scored.

Brandon Halverson stopped 26 shots for the Greyhounds.

“Halvy was really good tonight,” Keefe said. “Goaltending was a big difference in the game, especially in the first 40 minutes. The game was actually closer than the score indicated. We scored on our opportunities and their chances that they got, Halvy was very solid.”

Keefe was pleased with the Greyhounds defensively in the win.

“Tonight was the game that Guelph was able to generate the most and push back on us the most,” said Keefe. “We’re on the road and have a chance to put them on the brink so we expected them to be at their best and they were, which made it hard on us defensively. Since the playoffs have started we’ve seen an increase in commitment from our players on the defensive side of the puck and it’s been going well.”

Tyler Bertuzzi had the lone goal for the Storm.

Justin Nichols got the start, stopping 25 shots in two periods of action. Bradley Van Schubert entered the game for the third period and stopped all nine shots he faced in the third period.

The Greyhounds will have an opportunity to complete the sweep on Tuesday night in game four.

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OTHER SCORES

In Barrie, Nick Paul’s shorthanded goal at 4:08 of the third period was the game winner as the North Bay Battalion beat the Barrie Colts 3-2. Kyle Wood and Ray Huether also scored for North Bay. Brendan Lemieux and Roy Radke scored for Barrie.

The series is now tied at one after Barrie took the series opener on Friday night, also by a 3-2 score. Joseph Blandisi had the game-winner in the opener while Jonathan Laser and Andrew Mangiapane also scored. Mackenzie Blackwood stopped 34 shots.  Nick Moutrey and Ryan Kujawinski scored in the series opener for North Bay.

Game three is Tuesday night in North Bay.

In Oshawa, Michael Dal Colle had a goal and two assists to lead the Oshawa Generals beat the Niagara IceDogs 6-1. Michael McCarron, Hunter Smith, Tobias Lindberg and Matt Mistele also scored. Ken Appleby stopped 26 shots for the Generals. Brendan Perlini had the lone Niagara goal.

The win gives Oshawa a 2-0 series lead over the IceDogs after a 5-3 win in game one. Dal Colle had two goals and an assist while Mitchell Vande Sompel added a goal and an assist. McCarron and Smith also scored for the Generals in the first game.

Billy Jenkins, Carter Verhaeghe and Johnny Corneil scored for Niagara in game one.

Game three is Tuesday night in St. Catharines.

The Erie Otters took a 3-0 series lead on Sunday night, Devin Williams stopped 27 shots to lead the Erie Otters beat the London Knights 4-1. Alex DeBrincat, Jake Marchment, Nick Betz and Travis Dermott scored for Erie. Joel Wigle had the lone London goal. Michael Giugovaz made 37 saves for the Knights.

In game two on Friday night, Connor McDavid scored five times as the Otters Knights 7-3. Taylor Raddysh and Jake Marchment also scored for Erie. Marchment had a goal and an assist while Remi Elie added three assists for the Otters. Patrick Murphy also had a multi-point night for Erie with two assists.

Jack Hidi, Aaron Berisha and Chandler Yackimowicz scored for London.

Game four is Tuesday night in London.

(Photo courtesy Soo Greyhounds)