Carroll the hero for Greyhounds

HAMILTON, Ont. – They’re all must-win games this time of year but this was the biggest win of the season for the Soo Greyhounds.

Noah Carroll forced a turnover at the Greyhounds blueline and proceeded to beat goaltender Kaden Fulcher to give the Greyhounds a 3-2 win over the Hamilton Bulldogs Wednesday night at the FirstOntario Centre in Hamilton.

The win pulls the Greyhounds even in the Ontario Hockey League championship series as it shifts back to Sault Ste. Marie for game five on Friday night.

Matthew Strome of Hamilton fell at the Greyhounds blueline and Carroll went in and slid a backhand five-hole on Fulcher for the game winner.

“I was going up to gap up and just poked it through,” Carroll said. “I used my momentum to beat the defenceman and I tried to keep it simple at first. I remembered how he (Fulcher) bites and I just went to the backhand.”

It’s by far the nicest goal I’ve scored,” Carroll also said. “I’m not known for being a goal-scorer so it’s always nice to be able to get that one for the guys who worked sixty-plus minutes. Nice to be able to give back to those forwards.

The Greyhounds rebounded after a third period goal by Hamilton’s Riley Stillman evened the game and forced the extra frame.

“When they tied it up, we sat back and they took it to us,” Greyhounds Coach Drew Bannister said. 

Boris Katchouk and Jack Kopacka has the other goals for the Greyhounds.

Goaltender Matthew Villalta was stellar in goal for the Greyhounds, stopping 45 shots. That included 15 in the third and 10 more in overtime.

“It was nice to see Matty bounce back,” Bannister said. “We need to see him continue to give us that kind of edge moving forward and make the big saves when we need him to when we’re on our heels.”

Nicholas Caamano has the other goal for Hamilton.

Fulcher made 28 saves.

“We were the better team in the third but they were the better team,” said Hamilton Coach John Gruden. “They won the battles and they were more desperate than we were.”

Puck drop for Friday’s fifth game is set for 7:07 p.m. at the Essar Centre.