Parts of game four in the series between the Oshawa Generals and Sudbury Wolves looked like game two where the Wolves found themselves in the penalty box often and for long periods of time.
While the Generals scored just one power play goal, their plan of frustrating the Wolves was working.
Despite two 10-minute misconduct penalties to Michael Pezzetta and Aiden Jamieson and a retaliation penalty to C.J. Yakimowicz late in the game, head coach Dave Matsos wasn’t upset with how the game went.
“Playoffs are emotional, the (Yakimowicz) one I’m not sure why we get four (minutes) and they get two, I don’t know the answer to that one,” said Matsos.
Yakimowicz was tied up with Matt Brassard, both were called for roughing but C.J. got an extra two minutes.
“We still played a good hockey game, we have just got to manage our discipline,” said Matsos.
In fairness, the Wolves didn’t lose this game, the Generals just outplayed their counterparts and won it.
“Penalties don’t help, anytime you’re taking that many penalties it kills momentum and when you’re killing penalties off it makes guys tired," said defenceman Patrick Sanvido.
"Some guys it takes a little while for the legs to get going that aren’t killing so it is a tough game, but otherwise I thought we played well, we had our chances to score, they scored on their opportunities and we didn’t.”
“We’re happy, we’re playing against a good team we know that, but I don’t think we hung on tonight, I thought we had pockets of the game tonight where we put them on their heels and they put us on ours," said Matsos.
"We’re in a series, we’re comfortable with the way we are, I get we lost home ice advantage but all we got to do is win tomorrow night. We’re chasing their bus down the highway tonight and we’re going to get in and settle in and rest up and we’ll see what happens.”
Generals goalie Jeremy Brodeur was a bit shaky through three games but was on his game, stopping 41 of 43 shots as the Wolves outshot the Gens overall 43-28.
"I think the breaks that they got and we didn’t get made the game tonight, we go down and have a good scoring chance and then they come down and it goes off the back wall and it’s in our net. But you know what it’s the playoffs guys, it’s a seven game series and it’s 2-2 right now, we’ll be fine,” said Matsos.
The Wolves are guaranteed another home game on Sunday night. Who will be leading the series at that point will be decided Friday and it’s been a grind for both teams.
“We’re happy with the way we've played, it’s playoffs, it’s a seven game series, we weren’t expecting to sweep the series we’re the underdog coming in,” said Sanvido.
“It’s a seven game series and right now it seems like it might take seven games to win it.”
A positive for the Wolves is David Levin snapped a 21-game goal scoring drought, regular and post-season combined.
It was a goal he picked up crashing to the net late in the first period.
“Those are the ones that actually you hope for, sometimes off the shin pad or chest and in is enough. I thought David played a good game for us tonight,” said Matsos.
The Generals held two-goal leads three times in the game, jumping out to a 2-0 lead in the first before Levin made it 2-1.
Then in the second period, Robbie Burt scored a power play goal to make it 3-1.
Dmitry Sokolov responded late in the second period off a nice feed by Owen Lane.
The so-called fourth line was perhaps the best for the Wolves up front as Owen Lane, Owen Gilhula and Shane Bulitka were used more than usual and made the most of their minutes.
Domenic Commisso scored well into the third period to restore the two goal lead and 4-2 was where this game finished.
The tough schedule continues for both teams as they play Friday in Oshawa with puck drop scheduled for 7:35 p.m.
