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Greyhounds take series lead on road

The Soo Greyhounds took a 2-0 series lead thanks to a win over the Owen Sound Attack on Friday night
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Special teams became a difference for the Soo Greyhounds on Friday night.

A pair of goals on the power play and killing off a lengthy two-man advantage helped lift the Greyhounds to a 4-1 win over the Owen Sound Attack Friday at the Essar Centre in game two of their Western Conference semifinal series.

Owen Sound finished the night scoreless in six power play opportunities which included a lengthy 5-on-3 at the end of the second period.

“The boys were blocking shots and getting pucks out so that’s huge when we can do that, especially on a five-on-three,” said Greyhounds goaltender Joseph Raaymakers.

“Those were big kills for us,” Greyhounds Coach Drew Bannister. “If they score on that, there’s a lot of momentum going their way. It was a big kill for us in the sense that we were able to come out of if not giving anything up and continue to push.”

Owen Sound Coach Ryan McGill called special teams the difference in the game saying, “we took a couple of needless penalties.”

McGill would say that Raaymakers was the difference on the two-man advantage.

“He made a couple of big saves,” McGill said.

Raaymakers made 34 saves for the Greyhounds.

“I feel good and I feel confident,” Raaymakers said of his recent play.

“Joe was excellent again,” Bannister said. “He’s played very well since we brought him in in the Flint series.”

Bannister said the game was a difference pace than what the first game of the series was.

“Today was a heavier game (than game one),” Bannister said, noting the Attack increasing the physical game in the second period in an effort to get back in the game.

Bobby MacIntyre and Tim Gettinger had the other goals for the Greyhounds.

Bannister said he didn’t feel the Greyhounds were as good at even strength as they were in game one but added that it was in part due to an improved game from Owen Sound as well.

“We’re matching their intensity,” Bannister said. “(Owen Sound) has had a lot of push-back and we’ve been able to match that.”

Petrus Palmu has the lone goal for Owen Sound while goaltender Michael McNiven stopped 34 shots.

McGill would say that the difference for the Attack going into game three is “we have to play as urgent as they’re playing.”

The win means the Greyhounds will take a 2-0 series lead into games three and four in Owen Sound, beginning Sunday night. Puck drop for game three Sunday is 6 p.m. at the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre in The Scenic City. Game four is Tuesday night at 7 p.m. If necessary, game five is Apr. 14 at the Essar Centre.

*****

OTHER SCORES

In Mississauga, Riley Stillman’s goal at 16:45 of the second period held up as the game-winner as the Oshawa Generals beat the Mississauga Steelheads 3-2. Jack Studnicka finished the day with a goal and two assists while goaltender Jeremy Brodeur made 50 saves for the Generals. Joe Manchurek had the other Oshawa goal. Jacob Cascagnette and Vili Saarijarvi scored for Mississauga. Michael McLeod assisted on both Mississauga goals. The Generals will take a 1-0 series lead into game two on Sunday afternoon in Mississauga.

In Erie, 24 hours after being blanked in the series opener, the Erie Otters got three goals and an assist from Darren Raddysh in a 5-1 win over the London Knights at Erie Insurance Arena. Taylor Raddysh added a goal and two assists while Kyle Maksimovich also scored for the Otters, T.J. Fergus assisted on a pair of Erie goals. Mitchell Vande Sompel had the lone goal for the Knights. The series, tied at a game apiece, shifts to London for game three on Tuesday night.


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Brad Coccimiglio

About the Author: Brad Coccimiglio

A graduate of Loyalist College’s Sports Journalism program, Brad Coccimiglio’s work has appeared in The Hockey News as well as online at FoxSports.com in addition to regular freelance work with SooToday before joining the team full time.
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