As quickly as one streak ended, a new one has started for the Sudbury Wolves as they won their third straight game Sunday afternoon, toppling the Central Division-leading Niagara IceDogs by a score of 7-3.
The Wolves had been reeling to close out 2018, and were mired in a seven-game losing skid before beating the Barrie Colts 4-3 last Thursday. A 3-0 win over the Mississuaga Steelheads in goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen's return on Friday was followed up with a drubbing of another Central Divsion foe on Sunday afternoon.
Sudbury got out on the front foot early on Sunday, with Adam Ruzicka potting his 13th goal of the season just 1:21 into the game. Blake Murray and Ryan O'Bonsawin would stretch the Wolves lead to 3-0 before Niagara's Matt Brassard answered for the visitors.
The Wolves responded with just seven seconds left on the clock in the first period as David Levin scored his 17th goal of the season and the home team carried a comfortable 4-1 lead into the first intermission.
Perhaps that lead was a bit too comfortable however, as the IceDogs came out with a purpose in period number two, firing a pair of shots past Luukkonen to narrow the margin to 4-3 with 10 minutes to play in the second period.
That's as close as the IceDogs would get though as the Wolves clamped down defensively and continued their offensive onslaught in the third period.
Rookie Quinton Byfield gave the Wolves some breathing room early in the third, scoring his 16th of his freshman campaign just 1:33 into the period. Liam Ross tallied for the Wolves seven minutes later, and Shane Bulitka drove the final nail into the coffin with about five and a half minutes to play in the game, scoring his 10th to make the final 7-3.
With the win, the Wolves closed the gap on Niagara for the Central Division lead to just four points as the Wolves are sitting on 51 points in 41 games, while Niagara has 55 points in the same number of games played.
The Wolves will continue their home stretch this week with a game against the North Bay Battalion on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
This weekend will present a real test for the Wolves as two of the top teams in the OHL visit the Sudbury Community Arena. The London Knights, who sit second overall in the league will be in town Friday night to take on the Wolves.
On Sunday, the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, who are currently in third overall, will pay the Wolves a visit.
