Special teams have been a difference for both teams and on Wednesday night, the Soo Greyhounds used some success on the power play to move into a good spot in its Western Conference quarterfinal series with the Owen Sound Attack.
On the road with an opportunity to take a 3-1 series lead, the Greyhounds scored three times on the power play in a 5-2 win over the Attack at the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre in Owen Sound.
“The power play was fantastic tonight,” said Greyhounds coach John Dean. “As the game went on, it got a little bit out of hand and we got a little looser on the power play but when we needed it when it was really important, they scored two big ones.”
“We’ve got two good units going now so it’s pretty dangerous,” Greyhounds forward Morgan Frost said of the power play.
“It was good to capitalize on those chances,” Frost also said.
Overage defenceman Jordan Sambrook, who scored twice on the man advantage for the Greyhounds, said the power play was “definitely a big factor” in the victory.
Owen Sound coach Alan Letang said prior to the series that special teams would be a difference for the Attack, and it turned out to be in game four.
“You can’t give up three power play goals and expect to win a game,” Letang said. “And on the other side, we missed three open nets at crucial times in the game. We had a two-on-none and don’t put it in the net, it completely changes the outcome.”
The Greyhounds finished the night 3-for-8 on the power play.
The goals were the first two of the playoffs for Sambrook but the veteran blueliner has been solid for the Greyhounds of late.
“Sambo down the stretch really took his game to another level,” Dean said of the overage blueliner. “Those are two big power play goals he scored. He finds a way to get pucks through. And he also plays big line matchups as well. We always talk about him when he gets on the scoresheet, but he does a lot of good things away from the puck as well and tonight he gets rewarded.”
The teams combined for 20 penalties in the contest, most of which came in the final 40 minutes.
“It got out of hand, especially in the second half of the game,” Dean said. “They play a hard-nosed style of game and I can understand that in their rink.”
“Our guys handled themselves well,” Dean also said. “We kept playing our style of game. That’s a tough game to play. You’re controlling the game and in the second half of the game you’re dealing with some extracurricular activities every shift. It’s not easy on the guys but we did a good job of controlling it.”
After being held off the scoresheet in game three, Frost finished Wednesday’s game with two goals and an assist.
“I hold myself to a high standard and it motivated me to be better,” Frost said.
Barrett Hayton chipped in with a goal and an assist while Jaden Peca assisted on three goals for the Greyhounds.
Goaltender Matthew Villalta stopped 24 shots.
For the Attack, defenceman Brady Lyle had a goal and an assist.
Sergey Popov had the other Owen Sound goal.
Goaltender Mack Guzda made 20 saves.
Game five is set for Friday night at the GFL Memorial Gardens in Sault Ste. Marie with game six, if necessary, scheduled for Sunday night in Owen Sound.
Greyhounds forward Joe Carroll left the game in the second period after taking a hit along the side boards from Owen Sound defenceman Mark Woolley and did not return.
The extent of the injury was not known.
In other OHL playoff action on Wednesday night, in Hamilton, the Ottawa 67’s scored four times in the opening period en route to a 7-2 win over the Hamilton Bulldogs to advance to the second round with a four-game sweep. The 67’s got goals from seven difference players in the win, including a goal and an assist each from Merrick Rippon, Lucas Chiodo, and Marco Rossi.
The 67’s took a 3-0 stranglehold on the series with a 2-1 win on Tuesday night as defenceman Noel Hoefenmayer had the game-winner for Ottawa.
In Mississauga, the Sudbury Wolves capped a four-game sweep of the Mississauga Steelheads with a 4-1 win. Defenceman Peter Stratis had a goal and an assist for the Wolves. Goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen stopped 32 shots.
In other action on Tuesday night, in North Bay, Philip Tomasino had two goals and an assist as the Niagara IceDogs took a 2-1 series lead on the North Bay Battalion with a 6-0 win. Ivan Lodnia chipped in with a goal and two assists while Stephen Dhillon made 20 saves for the shutout. Christian Propp made 45 saves for North Bay.
In Kitchener, Nick Suzuki had two goals and an assist as the Guelph Storm beat the Kitchener 6-3 to take a 3-0 series lead in the process. Nate Schnarr chipped in with a goal and two assists for Guelph. Jonathan Yantsis scored a pair of goals for Kitchener.
In Peterborough, Christopher Paquette had the game-winner as the Peterborough Petes scored three unanswered goals to beat the Oshawa Generals 3-2. The Generals hold a 2-1 series lead on the Petes. Goaltender Hunter Jones made 28 saves.
In London, Adam Boqvist scored four times as the London Knights beat the Windsor Spitfires 6-3 to take a commanding 3-0 series lead. Alex Formenton chipped in with a goal and three assists for the Knights.
In Sarnia, the Saginaw Spirit took a 3-0 series lead on the Sarnia Sting thanks to a 6-1 victory. Justin Murray and Camaryn Baber had a goal and an assist each for the Spirit.