The Sudbury Wolves started a mini win streak Saturday and scored 12 goals in two games as they sent their northern rival packing beating the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds 5-2.
Sudbury snapped a four-game losing streak Friday night with a 7-3 win over Sarnia and made it two straight Saturday, giving them some breathing room in the standings. Ottawa lost to Erie, so Sudbury holds down sixth place in the Eastern Conference by three points. They are also now just three points behind Hamilton for fifth place.
“Obviously when you come out of the weekend with both games, it’s a pretty good feeling especially after the little stint that we went on,” said Liam Dunda, who picked up two goals on the evening. “It’s a good vibe in the dressing room too, even just coming into the weekend we knew the games that we played were behind us and that this weekend was huge for us to pick up some points that we lost.”
The game wasn’t all pretty. Sudbury held a 3-0 lead, only to see the Soo score twice before the end of the second period.
But the Wolves moved to 15-0-2 when leading after two periods this season, showing they are a team that can hold the lead.
They also showed they can hold their own against the Greyhounds, who came into the game second in the Western Conference with 71 points, and a 22-5 road record.
But in four games against Sudbury, the Greyhounds only have one win and that came in overtime.
“These are all like playoff style games, and these games are going to be tight when you get in,” said Wolves head coach David Matsos. “You got to build these confidence and character wins, maintain and hold the one goal leads by playing the right way.
“We know how good the Soo is, we knew they were going to get and create some opportunities in the third, we understood that. But in the same token we needed to stay focused and not get off our game, we didn’t want to play on our heels, we wanted to keep challenging.”
Jake McGrath was back between the pipes for the Wolves, making 29 of 31 saves for his 12th win of the year.
“Exactly what we were hoping for out of Jake,” said Matsos. “You know, MacKenzie (Savard) came in and played six really good periods for us and you could see Jake was getting antsy he wanted the net again, sometimes that healthy competition or little tug of war that these goalies go through is important. The big thing for me was the way he responded against a really good hockey team tonight.”
McGrath enjoyed the rest, but didn’t want any more of it.
“They wanted to give him a chance and obviously give me a rest so it was kind of nice,” said McGrath. “Obviously you want to play but at the same time it’s good to get that rest in, but it felt pretty to get back in there and showcase myself.”
The Wolves were able to provide McGrath with support early as they jumped on the Greyhounds.
Just a minute into the first period, Drake Pilon took the puck at his own blue line and went quarter-coast to coast, blowing past a number of Soo players and on the first shot of the game he went back hand top corner.
It was Drake Pilon’s third of the season, his brother Darian picked up the assist along with Patrick Sanvido.
The Wolves scored their second goal with under a minute left to play in the first. As a power play expired for Sudbury, Michael Pezzetta fired a pass through the crease that bounced off Macauley Carson and in for his 18th of the season.
After one period, the Wolves held a 2-0 lead.
The Wolves started the second period off much like they did the first, with a quick goal. Dunda used his size to carry the puck down the left side and fired a beautiful wrist shot from a tough angle that found the top corner, bar-down.
But you knew the high-powered offence of the Greyhounds were not going to be shutdown for long. Blake Speers made some room for himself in the Wolves zone and scored. Then with 35 seconds left in the period ,Speers dropped a pass off to Jack Kopacka from behind the net.
McGrath followed Speers, which left Kopacka an empty net to score his 18th of the season.
After two the Wolves still led, but were clinging on 3-2. Those two were all the Greyhounds would get.
Ryan Valentini found Dmitry Sokolov who scored his 35th of the season adding a much needed insurance marker. Sokolov now has 10 points in four games against the Hounds this season including eight goals.
Dunda added some icing on the cake at the end with a empty net goal to give him eight on the season.
Sudbury will get Super Bowl Sunday off and will have a three-game road trip next weekend in Peterborough, Kingston and Ottawa.
The Greyhounds will lick their wounds and face the North Bay Battalion on Sunday.
