Hounds in the driver’s seat
It was playoff hockey at its most exciting, complete with the drama of more than 27 minutes of overtime.
Overage forward Gabe Guertler tipped in a power-play point shot from defenseman Gustav Bouramman just past the seven-minute mark of second overtime to lift the Soo Greyhounds to a 3-2 win over the Sarnia Sting and a stunning 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven, first-round, Ontario Hockey League Western Conference playoff series.
Playing at home on Thursday, the seventh-seeded Greyhounds rode the spectacular 40-save effort of goalie Brandon Halverson to the energetic victory over the second-seeded Sting.
Halverson’s clutch performance — which included at least a half-dozen big-time stops — had the Essar Centre faithful chanting “Halvy, Halvy, Halvy” throughout the intense, well-played match.
Though not facing as many shots as Halverson, Sarnia goalie Charlie Graham made a number of grade A saves, especially after the Greyhounds tied the score with just over nine minutes to play in the third period.
Colton White, with the game-tieing goal, and relentless captain Blake Speers found range behind Graham before Guertler’s OT winner.
Pavel Zacha and Matt Mistele scored for Sarnia, which heads back home for a Saturday night game and its season on the line.
If Sarnia wins Game 5, it will force a Game 6 on Sunday night back in the Soo.
PHOTO: Sarnia defenseman Josh Jacobs and Greyhound forward Frankie Pucci chase the puck during Thursday’s Game 5 playoff. (Photo by Jeffrey Ougler/Postmedia.)
Big win hounds!Hopefully you close out the series in Sarnia