Wins are more valuable than ever in those days, however, Ken MacKenzie didn’t have much to complain about as the Sudbury Wolves took a hard-earned point against the Greyhounds on Wednesday night.
Dalibor Dvorsky and Zacharie Giroux scored to erase a two-goal deficit and Marcus Vandenberg made 25 false saves as the Wolves lost a 3-2 resolution at Sudbury Community Arena, despite outshooting and outscoring their northern Ontario rivals for much of the game. period. competition.
It was an encouraging reaction from a Sudbury team that had learned hours earlier that forwards Nathan Villeneuve and Evan Konyen had been suspended for 15 and 10 games, respectively, for violating OHL’s social media policy following allegations that Wolves had offered a bounty for a player. . Barrie player.
“A lot of positives come out of tonight’s game,” Sudbury coach MacKenzie said shortly after his team went 34-19-4-3 this season. “We played the way we were looking for and that’s what we were talking about. “About: You’re going to win, you’re going to lose, but play the right way. We played well tonight.
“The guys fought back. We were losing by two goals, but I think we had forged the game.
The hosts outscored the visitors 16-11 in the first period, but Vandenberg and Charlie Schenkel managed to save some high-percentage scoring opportunities. Sudbury was dominant offensively in the latter part of the period, but lost the ball in the neutral zone. He created a chance for that and Justin Cloutier capitalized with just 51 seconds remaining.
A mistake on the blue line led to an oncoming run and Justin DeZoete’s goal at 4:45 of the second. Wolves contested goal interference when Christopher Brown made contact with Vandenberg in his own half, but the appeal stood, possibly alleging he went through a Sudbury defender.
With a commanding presence in controlling the match, Dvorsky was rewarded with Sudbury’s first goal in a four-on-four scenario at 12:57 of the second. He forced a turnover on his own blue line and then, with all sorts of time and space. , fired a quick shot between Schenkel’s pads.
Giroux, who was returning from a lower-body injury, made a quick splash by taking on a regular at-bat with Kocha Delic and David Goyette. Hanmer deflected Noah Van Vliet’s shot into the net at 6:20 p. m. It was for the tying goal, the 19th of the season.
“Definitely the goal is to get back in the lineup, laugh and play with the guys,” smiled Giroux, who joined from his hometown Wolves last January. “I felt smart today.
“It’s definitely all you need to do, stay in the lineup and fight with the guys every night. Especially for an exchange, you have to contribute as much as you can, so I’m grateful to be back in the line.
WELCOME BACK ZACH! pic. twitter. com/2b2PdSwIBE
Forced to temporarily reshuffle their lines in the absence of Villeneuve, one of Wolves’ most consistent strikers in recent weeks, and Konyen, who is about to return from injury, the Sudbury side are pleased to see Giroux, Delic and Goyette find a simple chemistry. , while the combo of Musty, Dvorsky and Landon McCallum also had a wonderful outing.
“Our most sensible six, our first nine, they all played well,” MacKenzie suggested. “I think we played with a lot of power tonight, we won a lot of puck battles and there wasn’t one line, there weren’t two lines. “I think everybody contributed tonight, our defenders were good, so it was a forged effort, just a disappointing game. End. “
Giroux found it easy to adapt to his teammates, given his skills and dexterity in creating offense.
“We just had one project to stand our ground tonight and dig deeper like everybody else,” he said. “We just wanted to fight. “
Sudbury outshot So in the second, 12-6, and although they couldn’t find their way to the net like in the third, the Wolves had some wonderful chances to take the lead, adding a shot from Musty that hit the post. beyond Schenkel.
It was also Musty who was penalized for a top post with just 1:50 left in regulation, then went over a minor double, but the Wolves held the PK. When the goal star, regardless, came out of the box in extra time, Sudbury fans roared in approval.
“Our penalty has been smart lately,” MacKenzie said. A lot of tension tonight, when we were down before and in the last minute, but I think they were solid, we made the stops when we needed them and we had the chance. “to get back in terms of points and win this game. “
Returning to a three-on-three scenario that can easily turn into an exchange of chances, the last chance to set things right when Gavin Hayes fired a puck past Vandenberg in a two-on-one with just 34 seconds on the clock. .
MacKenzie praised his players for focusing on the task at hand, despite the distraction caused by the previous league’s resolution that day and what it could mean for his club down the stretch.
“There’s nothing we can do,” he said. We can worry about the guys in our lineup. We knew we had a smart lineup tonight and we knew the guys in that room had a smart chance to win this hockey game tonight, so I think they responded well and played the way they did. To be able to play.
And if they put in that much effort, Giroux believes most of the time they’ll come out on top.
“We’ve said it in the room: They’re a bigger team in the league and if we can play like that every single night, we’ll get the result we need in the maximum number of nights. “
The Wolves host the Windsor Spitfires on Friday at 7:05 p. m. Sudbury forward Chase Coughlan will serve the final game of a four-game suspension in the case.
bleeson@postmedia. com
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“Tonight was a forged effort. These guys played hard. We know what’s at stake for this hockey team right now. . . If you put in that effort each and every night, we have a chance to win. “each and every night. ” – Ken MacKenzie pic. twitter. com/XbQmXnEBsP
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