Wolves must stay out of box
The devil is in the details. A simple statement, yet somehow it is so often forgotten. Sunday night in Oshawa would be the perfect example of what happens when you forget.
Tied 1-1 in their first round, best-of-seven, Ontario Hockey League playoff series, Sudbury Wolves will need to stay out of the penalty box tonight when they face the visiting Oshawa Generals in a pivotal Game 3 of the Eastern Conference set.
Tonight marks the return of playoff hockey to Sudbury Community Arena for the first time since, March 27, 2014 — a 2-1 win for the Wolves over the Barrie Colts.
That game proved to be the one and only playoff win for Sudbury against Barrie in that first-round series and the only member of the current roster that played in that game is Wolves captain, defenseman Kyle Capobianco.
Back to the task at hand, tonight’s matchup.
After an excellent first game for the Wolves, followed by a second match that was at times, somewhat disastrous, Sudbury will look to right the ship and get back to its winning ways of late tonight.
On Sunday in Oshawa, tempers flared and the Generals got to the Wolves. The Wolves found themselves shorthanded for 24 minutes on Sunday and the Generals capitalized twice on the power play.
Cooler heads must prevail tonight, if the Wolves are to be successful.
This series is heating up, and I for one am all for a physical style of game. I actually tend to prefer this type of hockey. Clean, open ice hits, sending someone over the boards a la veteran Wolves forward Michael Pezzetta. This is after all, playoff hockey.
Fast-paced, physical, playoff hockey. There is a fine line though and the Wolves tend to teeter on it, a bit too often.
Tonight, if they remain disciplined and are able to play the way they did in Game 1 — and got back to, in the third period of Game 2 — I do believe they will come out with a 2-1 series lead.
One thing is for sure, these guys are ready and excited to play in front of a hometown crowd that you know is going to be loud tonight.
Playoff hockey makes its return to Sudbury tonight, 7 p.m. at the old Elgin St. barn.
The Wolves led the league in PIM’s during the regular season. It will be interesting to see if they can tone it down in the playoffs.
….the O discourages physical hockey as it could lead to hits to the head and blind side hits,whch used to be referred to as “keep your head up”…i.f Wolves play this fan friendly style this series will be over quickly..hate Oshawa..beat em!