Sometimes, when you’re hot, things just go your way and for the Soo Greyhounds, that was the case on Sunday afternoon.
The Greyhounds picked up a 6-3 Ontario Hockey League win over the Windsor Spitfires Sunday at the Essar Centre. The win extends the Greyhounds winning streak to 17 games in the process.
Greyhounds Coach Drew Bannister said the game was one where the team “played well enough to win.”
“We were ok,” Bannister said. “In the first period we were good. In the second period, it was bad for a while and in the third period we were ok.
“It didn’t seem like there was much energy in the rink and there wasn’t energy on the ice,” Bannister added.
The Greyhounds scored a pair of goals in the second period with the teams playing four-on-four after offsetting penalties, which helped lift the team.
The goals came with the game tied at two as Boris Katchouk gave the Greyhounds the lead on a partial break and Hayden Verbeek would go to the net and redirect a feed from Ryan Roth for the second goal, putting the Greyhounds ahead to stay.
Katchouk finished the night with a pair of goals, as did Jack Kopacka who also assisted on a goal in the win.
Keeghan Howdeshell added a goal and an assist for the Greyhounds. Defenceman Conor Timmins set up a pair of goals.
Brock Baier got the start in goal for the Spitfires, making 24 saves.
Baier made the start as veteran Michael DiPietro remained in Windsor to rest ahead of the Canadian National Junior Team selection camp, which begins this week in St. Catharines.
Katchouk and Timmins are slated to leave Monday to attend the camp as well.
There was some concern late in the game on Timmins’ status after the veteran blueliner was slashed in the Greyhounds zone but the Colorado Avalanche prospect was fine post game.
Aaron Luchuk and Logan Brown had a goal and an assist each for the Spitfires. Cole Purboo also picked up a goal.
“I was pleased with our effort,” Windsor Assistant Coach Jerrod Smith said. “We competed really hard from the start.”
Smith spoke to the media as head coach Trevor Letowski is away preparing for the selection camp as well.
“Our guys were prepared for a battle tonight and I think we gave them one,” Smith added.
The Greyhounds wrap up the home portion of the pre-Christmas schedule on Wednesday night as the Flint Firebirds travel north for the first time of the season. Puck drop at the Essar Centre is set for 7:07 p.m.
With Timmins and Katchouk away, Bannister said he had not made a decision on how the lineup would be set for the game. Part of the decision rests on the status of team captain Tim Gettinger, who missed both weekend games due to injury.
Gettinger has been working out and is expected to skate in practice on Tuesday.
The Greyhounds improve to 26-3-2-0 with the victory and sit four points ahead of the Sarnia Sting in the OHL’s West Division with a game in hand.
Meanwhile, the Spitfires drop to 17-11-2-0 and sit third in the West Division.
In other action around the OHL on Sunday, in Guelph, Cole Carter scored three times as the Kitchener Rangers beat the Guelph Storm 10-3. Adam Liska chipped in with a goal and three assists, while Jake Henderson and Adam Mascherin added a goal and two assists each for the Rangers.
In London, Max Jones had two goals and two assists as the London Knights beat the Erie Otters 6-2. Cliff Pu added a goal and two assists for the Knights.
In Mississauga, Kaden Fulcher made 45 saves as the Hamilton Bulldogs beat the Mississauga Steelheads 5-2. Brandon Saigeon scored a pair of goals for Hamilton.
In North Bay, Justin Brazeau had three goals and an assist as the North Bay Battalion beat the Barrie Colts 5-2. Luke Burghardt and Adam Thilander chipped in with a goal and an assist each. Barrie goaltender Leo Lazarev made 43 saves.
In Ottawa, Shane Bulitka had the shootout winner as the Sudbury Wolves beat the Ottawa 67’s 4-3. Sudbury goaltender Jake McGrath made 34 saves and proceeded to stop six of seven Ottawa shooters in the shootout. Blake Murray had two goals and an assist for the Wolves in regulation time.