The Owen Sound Attack continue to keep things close, but the Soo Greyhounds used a pair of third period goals to pick up its first series lead of the Ontario Hockey League playoffs on Monday night.
Alex Johnston and Holden Wale scored goals 1:31 apart in the third period to turn a slim Greyhounds lead into a 5-2 victory over the Attack at the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre in Owen Sound.
The goals came after Owen Sound pushed the play to open the third period, outshooting the visitors 8-3 through the opening six minutes of the frame.
“(Owen Sound’s) push was really good at the beginning of the third and our guys responded really well,” said Greyhounds coach John Dean.
“Overall, we’ve always had a great response when we’ve been tested and that’s just another example of that where they definitely pushed on us early in the third but our response was really good,” said Greyhounds captain Barrett Hayton, who finished the night with a goal and three assists.
For Johnston, the goal was his second in as many games after he scored one of the Greyhounds four goals in the opening period of game two.
“It feels really good to contribute like that,” the rookie forward said. “I didn’t really know what to expect coming into these playoffs but it’s going well so far.”
“He’s been promoted to playing a pretty good role on our team right now and all he does is answer the bell,” Dean said. “He’s done a bang-up job. He competes extremely hard and looks like a kid that might be made for playoff hockey.
It wasn’t a perfect game for the Greyhounds but it’s a learning experience for some of the young members of the club experience their first playoff action on the road.
“It was a bit of a sloppy game, but I give the guys credit for finding a way to get the win,” Dean said. “For some guys, that’s the first time playing a playoff game in that type of atmosphere and that barn. It presented a few issues for us. It just seemed like a bit of a tough night with the puck but, like all year, our guys find a way to pull out a win.”
Dean also said, “I don’t like that we’ve given them opportunities to come back in games.”
That being said, Dean added that there were some things to like about the win for the Greyhounds as well.
“I’m happy with our resilience, I’m happy with our effort in the third period,” Dean said.
Veteran netminder Matthew Villalta made 31 saves for the Greyhounds.
“Matt was fantastic,” Dean said. “When they came at us and challenged us, he was always there to answer the bell as usual.”
Jaromir Pytlik and Keeghan Howdeshell chipped in with a goal and an assist each for the Greyhounds.
Howdeshell’s goal, which came midway through the second period, was the eventual game-winner.
Barret Kirwin and Aidan Dudas completed the scoring for the Attack. Defenceman Brady Lyle assisted on both goals.
Goaltender Mack Guzda made 23 saves.
Monday’s win gives the Greyhounds a 2-1 series lead over the Attack after Owen Sound won the series opener last Thursday in overtime at the GFL Memorial Gardens.
Game four is set for Wednesday night in Owen Sound before the series shifts back to Sault Ste. Marie for game five on Friday night.
The Greyhounds and Attack was the lone game on the OHL schedule on Monday night.
On Sunday, in Ottawa, Graeme Clarke had three goals as the Ottawa 67’s beat the Hamilton Bulldogs 5-2 to take a 2-0 lead in their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series. Austen Keating had two assists for Ottawa.
In London, Nathan Dunkley and Cole Tymkin had two assists each as the London Knights blanked the Windsor Spitfires 5-0 and took a 2-0 series lead in the proves. Knights defenceman Evan Bouchard set up three goals. Goaltender Jordan Kooy stopped 15 shots for the shutout.
In Guelph, Liam Hawel had two goals and an assist as the Guelph Storm beat the Kitchener Rangers 7-0. Alexey Toropchenko added a goal and two assists while Nate Schnarr assisted on four goals for the Storm. Anthony Popovich made 22 saves for the shutout as the Storm took a 2-0 series lead on the Rangers.
In Oshawa, Tyler Tullio had a pair of goals as the Oshawa Generals took a 2-0 series lead on the Peterborough Petes thanks to an 8-2 win. Allan McShane chipped in with a goal and an assist while Brandon Saigeon and Lleyton Moore assisted on two goals each for the Generals.
In Mississauga, Quinton Byfield scored a pair of goals as the Sudbury Wolves took a 3-0 stranglehold on the Mississauga Steelheads with a 5-3 win. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen stopped 39 shots for the Wolves.
In league news on Monday, the OHL office announced a pair of suspensions stemming from separate incidents in Sunday’s Ottawa/Hamilton game.
Hamilton forward Navrin Mutter has been suspended for three games after receiving a match penalty for cross-checking in the opening period of the game.
Overage forward Kyle Maksimovich of the 67’s has been suspended for two games after being given a major penalty and game misconduct for charging after hitting Hamilton goaltender Zachary Roy in the third period of the game.