VIDEO: Greyhounds cap homestand on sour note

Not a lot of things went right for the Soo Greyhounds on Sunday afternoon and the problems started in warmup.

Wrapping up a three-game Ontario Hockey League homestand, the Greyhounds lost veteran goaltender Matthew Villalta during warmup after the Los Angeles Kings prospect was cut and was taken to hospital.

Greyhounds Coach John Dean had few details on the injury following the Greyhounds 3-2 shootout loss to the Erie Otters.

“He’s got a cut on his lower body,” Dean said. “Somewhere close to his calf and I’m waiting on a report.”

“The referee stepped on him in warmup,” Dean also said, noting it was the skate of linesman Marcus Policicchio that cut Villalta.

The loss of Villalta, who was scheduled to start Sunday’s game, meant rookie Ethan Taylor would be pressed into action.

“Taylor did a great job,” Dean said. “We hung him out to dry in the first period.”

“He made some big saves when we were sleeping,” Dean also said. “Especially in the second half of the first period. He played very well.”

Taylor made 26 saves for the Greyhounds.

Dean spoke of how slow starts have “become a theme” for the Greyhounds of late. 

“We’ve got to find a way and not just play when our backs are against the wall,” Dean said. “We’ve got to play like our backs are against the wall from the drop of the puck and be a very difficult team to play against.”

“There’s no excuse for the way we played, especially in the second half of the first period,” Dean also said. 

Puck management, which has been a staple for the Greyhounds, was an issue Sunday as well.

“We got out-detailed,” Dean said. “Our guys turned over pucks. We mis-managed the puck. I don’t ever think it’s a lack of work ethic with our group. It’s a matter of wanting to manage the puck properly.”

Mac Hollowell and Keeghan Howdeshell scored for the Greyhounds. 

Gera Poddubnyi’s shootout goal was the game-winner.

Emmett Sproul and Kyle Maksimovich scored in regulation time for the Otters.

Sunday’s win came after the Otters surrendered five goals in the first period in a 6-1 loss to the Sudbury Wolves on Friday night in Sudbury.

“We responded,” said Erie Coach Chris Hartsburg. “Friday, we weren’t great. Our goalie (Dan Murphy) responded with a great effort. For two periods, we were the better team. In the third, we ran out of gas a little bit. We weathered the storm there in our own end, keeping stuff to the outside. Missing the defencemen that we are right now, it shows well for our group.”

Missing from the Erie lineup were rookie blueliner Jamie Drysdale, who is at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, and veteran defenceman Ryan Martin, who missed the game due to an injury.

Otters netminder Daniel Murphy made 30 saves. 

“Dan was a rock for us,” Hartsburg said. “And that’ what we expect out of him. He has the ability to do that. When you get games like Friday night, its disappointing but we know what he can be and he showed it today.”

The loss drops the Greyhounds record to 12-3-3-1 while Erie moves to 8-8-1-0.

The Greyhounds return to action on Friday night in the opening game of a short two-game road trip that begins in Flint against the Firebirds before wrapping up the following night in Saginaw against the Spirit.

In other action around the OHL on Sunday, in Hamilton, Arthur Kaliyev had two goals and an assist as the Hamilton Bulldogs beat the Owen Sound Attack 5-2. Zachary Roy made 34 saves for the Bulldogs. Nick Suzuki had a pair of goals for Owen Sound.

In Kitchener, Joseph Raaymakers made 30 saves as the London Knights blanked the Kitchener Rangers 3-0. Lucas Pfeil made 32 saves for the Rangers.

In Mississauga, Ryan McLeod, Alan Lyszczarczyk, Cole Carter, Cole Schwindt, and Keean Washkurak had a goal and an assist each as the Mississauga Steelheads beat the Kingston Frontenacs 5-2. Kingston goaltender Brendan Bonello made 37 saves.