The Sudbury Wolves took a big bite out of the Niagara IceDogs at the Pack's annual Remembrance Day and Military Appreciation game Friday.
Find photos of the opening ceremonies here.
Backed by the cheers of a hometown crowd, there was just no stopping the boys in blue, especially with first season Wolves player Christian Purboo standing tall between the pipes.
The Pack delivered what would be their game-winning goal just over 13 minutes into the match and carried this advantage to a 6-0 final, despite a commendable amount of pressure from across the ice.
Purboo earned first star for earning the first shutout of his OHL career, followed by teammates Quinton Byfield and Kalle Loponen.
Both teams came out swinging in the first period, earning an even eight minutes in penalty time for acts such as kneeing, hooking and slashing.
Toronto Maple Leafs' prospect Loponen broke through this madness at 13:38, to deliver his fifth goal of the season with assistance from Byfield and Macauley Carson.
He was followed to the net just under three minutes later by teammate Owen Robinson, who was credited with the insurance goal for the matchup.
Unable to respond, the Niagara IceDogs headed into the second period down two, with shots on goal 11-8 in favour of their hosts.
Sudbury was the first to visit the penalty box in the second period, spending four minutes behind glass for roughing and checking from behind. The IceDogs took their place on the bench shortly thereafter, earning four minutes of their own for hooking and roughing.
This opened up a power play for the Wolves, allowing Byfield to score his 13th goal of the season with assistance from Bulitka and Loponen at 16:12. But the period was not over yet.
With less than two seconds remaining in play, Nolan Hutcheson raced down the ice to deliver his fifth goal of the season with assistance from Owen Gilhula and Isaak Phillips, bringing the Wolves lead to four.
Sudbury once again led shots on goal in the period, outshooting their visitors 15-8.
Wolves' Bulitka crushed all hopes of a comeback in the final frame, scoring his ninth goal of the season just over three minutes into the period. He was assisted in the play by Byfield and David Levin.
Levin returned to the net at 5:02 to pop in a shorthanded goal with assistance by Murray, to boost the Pack's lead one last time.
The gap in the scoreboard maintained tension on the ice, resulting in four minutes in penalty time for the Wolves and six for the IceDogs. The Wolves picked up penalty time for delay of game and roughing, as opposed to the IceDogs' charging, roughing and cross-checking.
This energy was not enough to even the scoreboard in the end, and Sudbury claimed a 6-0 shutout over Niagara
The Niagara IceDogs shortened the gap but still fell behind the Wolves in shots on goal in the third period, 15-12. Final shots on goal were 41-28 in favour of the Pack.
The Sudbury Wolves remain first in the Central Division, second in the Eastern Conference and second in the league overall, with 12 wins and seven losses. They are tied with the Niagara IceDogs in most games played this season so far.
The Wolves are back on the road today to face the Hamilton Bulldogs at the FirstOntario Centre this afternoon at 4 p.m.
