Greyhounds grind out road win (video)

After a tough result 24 hours earlier, the Soo Greyhounds took a lead through 20 minutes and grinded out a road win on Saturday night.

The Greyhounds scored twice in the opening period before adding two more goals in the third in a 4-1 Ontario Hockey League win over the Owen Sound Attack on Saturday at the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre.

While the finish to the game is what he liked the most, Soo Greyhounds coach John Dean said the opening period saw the team generate more offensive chances than it may have seemed.

“I didn’t mind the first period,” Dean said. “We had more chances than we realize, but not enough shots on net. We probably over-passed a bit, but we generated some off transition and off a couple of good forechecks.”

Dean added that he felt Owen Sound “was the better team by far” in the second period but added that he was pleased with the response in the third period.

“That’s the mark of a good hockey club,” Dean said. “We came out and executed very well and played in their end most of the third period and managed the puck exceptionally well and found a way to put pucks in the net.”

“We came into the rink tonight with a hard, competitive attitude,” added Greyhounds forward Kalvyn Watson. “We know Owen Sound is a hard-working team and we had a tough night in London, and we wanted the two points. It was a competitive night.”

Defenceman Jack Thompson said efforts from some of the Greyhounds younger players was contributing factor in the win as well.

“We were good,” Thompson said. “We got in late last night, which isn’t easy to get going. We had a lot of good efforts from younger guys stepping in a third line role. That was big.”

Dean expanded on the game being a tough one for the Greyhounds.

“It was a very difficult game to play in with a lot of guys put in some tough spots,” Dean said. “It wasn’t pretty the whole game, but we closed it out really well. It was just a good, solid, gritty game.”

Both Thompson and Watson spoke of the tough atmosphere of the rink in Owen Sound and adjusting.

“They’re really good in their own barn and everyone knows it,” Watson said. “Coming in, you expect that. They play a hard, physical style. They use the rink to their advantage. We have to know that the boards are hard, and we’ve got to play that exact same way.

“It’s different,” Thompson said. “I’ve only played there once in three years so it’s a little different for me. It’s tough with the boards and it’s a smaller rink. Everything happens a lot quicker.”

Owen Allard opened the scoring for the Greyhounds just over seven minutes into the game when he knocked in a rebound after Owen Sound goaltender Corbin Votary stopped Watson from the left circle initially on the play.

Thompson would make it 2-0 Greyhounds at 13:05 when his shot from the right point found an opening through traffic and past Votary.

Owen Sound cut the Sault lead to one in the final minute of the second period with a shorthanded goal.

Cedrick Guindon took a turnover at the Attack blueline and moved in on a 2-on-0 with Ethan Burroughs, who took a pass from Guindon and beat Greyhounds goaltender Tucker Tynan 5-hole.

The Greyhounds would take a 3-1 lead in the third period when Rory Kerins beat Votary high stick side after taking a pass from Watson on a 2-on-0 moments after Nick Porco had a chance at the other end but couldn’t get a shot off.

The two-goal night for Thompson gives the veteran blueliner four goals and five points in his last two games after scoring twice and assisting on another goal in Friday’s loss in London.

“He’s been fantastic from day one,” Dean said. “He’s hard on himself for production. He’s found the back of the net the past two or three games, but he’s been fantastic since day one. He’s logging 28 minutes a night. He’s playing defensively very strong. He’s generating a lot of offensive chances for himself and just hasn’t been able to find the twine. All you’re seeing now is a product of a lot of opportunities finally going in for him.”

Thompson called his recent offensive production a confidence boost.

“I was getting a lot of shots on net and getting some good opportunities and sometimes they just don’t go in,” Thompson said. “Now that they’re going in, it feels good.”

Tynan made 34 saves for the Greyhounds in the victory.

“He gave our team a lot of confidence,” Dean said. “He just looked solid.”

Votary stopped 24 shots for Owen Sound.

With the win, the Greyhounds improve to 27-15-4-1 and maintain pace with the Flint Firebirds atop the OHL’s West Division standings.

The Greyhounds sit one point behind the Firebirds for first in the division after Flint picked up a 3-2 shootout win over the Windsor Spitfires on Saturday night.

The Spitfires, who sit third in the division, trail the Greyhounds by six points and the Firebirds by seven following Saturday’s action.

The Attack fall to 19-21-2-2 with the loss, which leaves the team two points behind the Sarnia Sting for sixth in the OHL’s Western Conference after the Sting picked up a win over the Saginaw Spirit on Saturday.

Owen Sound is two points ahead of the Kitchener Rangers and three points ahead of the Erie Otters in a tight battle for playoff positioning in the conference.

The Greyhounds return to action on Wednesday night in the opening game of a three-game homestand that sees the team host the Sudbury Wolves on Wednesday before back-to-back games against the London Knights on Friday and Saturday nights.

Puck drop for all three games at the GFL Memorial Gardens is set for 7:07 p.m.