Greyhounds cap off regular season (video)

When the Ontario Hockey League playoffs open, it’s a game they plan to put in the rear-view mirror.

The next time the Soo Greyhounds take the ice, it will be at home in game one of their first round playoff series against the Guelph Storm and, though they’re entering the game after a loss, they’re happy with where they’re at heading in.

The Greyhounds capped off the regular season on Saturday night with a 6-4 loss to the Flint Firebirds at the Dort Financial Center in Flint.

Asked for his thoughts on the game, Greyhounds coach John Dean called it “an average game all around for both teams.”

The Greyhounds bench boss said he preferred to look at the big picture with the OHL playoffs on the horizon.

“It’s been an unbelievable last seven games,” Dean said. “Things have gone very well. The structure has been very good. Our penalty kill has been incredible. Our power play has been incredible.”

Dean also spoke on the Greyhounds preparedness for the playoffs.

“Over the last month, the guys have done a good job of identifying who we want to be and what style of team we want to be,” Dean said. “We have purpose in all three zones.”

“As long as guys understand that purpose, we’re going to have mistakes inside of that, but as long as we keep getting back to that foundation, we’ll find a lot of success,” Dean added.

Flint opened the scoring 1:43 into the contest when Brennan Othmann skated through the slot and deflected a shot from James Petrovski past Samuel Ivanov to give the Firebirds the early lead.

Ty Anselmini got the Greyhounds on the board seven minutes later. Parked near the edge of the crease, Anselmini deflected a shot from the left circle by Owen Allard past Flint starter Luke Cavallin.

Ethan Keppen gave the Firebirds a 2-1 lead with 2:55 to go in the opening period when he poked in a loose puck that slide in behind Ivanov after the rookie netminder initially stopped Amadeus Lombardi from the slot.

Tye Kartye tied the game for the Greyhounds 2:41 into the second period when he beat Cavallin from the high slot on a shot through a screen by Landon Hookey in close.

Marco Mignosa gave the Greyhounds the lead for the first time in the game 3:16 later. Skating in on a 2-on-1 with Keegan McMullen, Mignosa took a pass from McMullen, who had his first pass attempt on the play blocked, and then beat Cavallin at 5:57.

The Firebirds retook the lead late in the second period thanks to goals on both ends of a 5-on-3.

Othmann tied the game, scoring 13 seconds into the two-man advantage when he beat Ivanov with a one-timer from the left circle glove side.

Othmann then got his third of the night 17 seconds later when he beat Ivanov short side from the right circle.

Lombardi made it 5-3 Flint with 5:25 to go in the third when he broke to the net and swiped a loose puck 5-hole on Ivanov after Ethan Keppen’s pass from the left wing was partially blocked by Robert Calisti on its way to the slot.

Othmann scored his fourth of the night 1:36 later on the power play when he one-timed a pass from the right circle from Gavin Hayes past Ivanov.

In an interview with the Firebirds Hockey Network, Flint coach Ted Dent said Othmann is a player who “plays hard every night.”

“He’s blocking shots. He’s on the penalty kill and the power play,” Dent added. “He sticks up for teammates when he has to.”

Greyhounds defenceman Caeden Carlisle capped off the scoring with 1:18 to go, beating Cavallin glove side.

Hayes finished the night with three assists for the Firebirds while Zacharie Giroux and Dmitry Kuzmin assisted on a pair of goals each.

Ivanov made 32 saves for the Greyhounds while Cavallin stopped 30 shots at the other end.

Saturday’s result means the Greyhounds finish the regular season with a record of 39-22-6-1.

Meanwhile, the Firebirds finish regular season play with a record of 42-21-1-4.

The Greyhounds return to action on Thursday night at home when the team opens the first round of the playoffs against the Guelph Storm.

Forward Kalvyn Watson missed Saturday’s game after receiving a match penalty in Friday’s game for a cross-check on Flint defenceman Tyler Deline.

How long Watson remains out is up in the air.

Match penalties are automatically reviewed by the league and Dean said he had not received word on how long Watson will be out.