With the Sudbury Wolves holding a 2-0 lead in the second period the Sarnia Sting showed why they’re the top team in the OHL and netted five unanswered to snap the Wolves mini-home win streak.
“It’s a tough loss tonight, I thought we played well. We had chances especially in the second period also to score goals. We missed some opportunities that might of got to a 3-0 lead. That’s why they’re the number two team in Canada,” said Wolves Head Coach Cory Stillman.
The Wolves came in winners of two straight at home and got off to the start they needed, but Michael Pezzetta, who had a goal and assist on the night, knows top teams won’t lay down when they’re behind.
“We had a lot of good scoring chances and obviously they’re a great hockey team and we were in it with them for 20-30 minutes so I think that was good on our part. But for us we’ve got to stick in there for the full 60 minutes and I think they had some lucky bounces on their goals but that’s hockey sometimes, so for us it’s just know that we can compete with these top teams but we’ve got to stay in it for 60,” said Pezzetta.
The Wolves played the sixth ranked team in the CHL on Wednesday and the second ranked tonight and on both evenings it was a great effort from the Pack.
Like a wasp falling into a brand new glass of pop the effort was spoiled but it’s a positive Stillman can take away.
“It is, we come and work hard, we’ve been preaching that right from the start. When we buy into the game plan, stick to the game plan, you can see what we can do. When we step outside of it, you can see what happens,” said Stillman.
But he won’t hang his hat on a good effort alone.
“You can win hockey games you can be happy, you can say we’re close, we’re close, I get that, I understand that. To move up in standings to move up in the league you have to win hockey games. You can play well but if you lose games and you don’t get points it really doesn’t make a difference,” said Stillman.
The Wolves jumped out to an early lead thanks to a goal by Owen Gilhula, his second on the season, from Cole Candella and Pezzetta.
Gilhula took a shot that was stopped by goalie Justin Fazio and then the puck was cleared right back to Gilhula who didn’t make a mistake the second time around.
Sudbury led 1-0 after the first and it was just the fourth time this season that Sarnia trailed after one period.
The Wolves used a man advantage to pick up their second goal and it was a beauty.
Dmitry Sokolov found Kyle Rhodes in the left slot who slid a pass to Michael Pezzetta on the door-step and Pezzetta tipped the puck top shelf for his fourth on the season.
It didn’t take long for the Sting to answer as Brayden Guy scored his first OHL goal on a tip-in.
Guy then got number two on his career at the right side of the Wolves net he was able to control a missed shot and put the puck home to tie the game 2-2.
“The second period turned it, and then we take a penalty late, late, late in the second and they score 15 seconds in(the third). Now you’re playing catch-up with two goals in the third against a good team,” said Stillman.
Darian Pilon took a hooking penalty with 28 seconds left in the second period and 15 seconds into the third period Jordan Kyrou scored number eight on the year.
Jamieson Rees scored his first career OHL goal as the insurance marker on a two-on-one and then with eight seconds left Hugo Leufvenius scored to make it a 5-2 final.
The Wolves outshot Sarnia 43 to 28.
They will play their sixth game in nine days Saturday against Kingston.
“We've just got to stick together here, I mean obviously that was a tough loss, we came off a big win Wednesday and we wanted to keep that momentum moving into today, but it didn’t go our way,” said Pezzetta.
“So for us we’ve got to put this game behind us, maybe sit on it for a bit now in the room but when we get home, we’ve got a big one tomorrow that we can get two points.”
The loss moves Sudbury to 3-7-2 on the year while Sarnia improves to 11-1 with their 10th straight win.
