Pezzetta predicts Wolves win
There is no one who believes in the Sudbury Wolves more than the guys on the team. Ask game-winning goal scorer Michael Pezzetta and he’ll tell you just that.
“I think everyone in the room knows we can win this playoff series — and that we are going to win this playoff series,” the veteran Wolves forward proclaimed after Sudbury upended the Oshawa Generals 3-2 on Tuesday to take a 2-1 lead in the first round, best-of-seven, Ontario Hockey League Eastern Conference playoff series.
“For us it’s just going out there every night and doing the little things right and we are believers. The fans are believing in us right now, they packed the stands for us tonight, it’s going to be a good couple games to finish off the series.”
The Wolves did the little things right in Game 3 and it paid off with the win. There is still a bit of tweaking to be done, maintaining that discipline, but they have come a long way.
Prior to Game 3 — and before the second and the third periods — I watched the Wolves coaching staff stand at the door to the ice surface and fist pump every player before they stepped on the ice. Seeing that brought me back to the days of minor hockey, the coaches, pumping up the players in a very public display — it’s not something you see too often nowadays at this level of hockey.
Post game, it was forward Ryan Valentini bear-hugging his teammates as they celebrated a milestone victory in Sudbury. March 27, 2014 is no longer the date of the last Wolves playoff victory in Sudbury and if they keep playing the way they did, the victory won’t be the last one their fans see at home.
The Wolves got off to a relatively slow start with Robbie Burt scoring first for the Generals but the home side maintained composure for the most part and came out firing in the second.
Forward Dmitri Sokolov’s third goal of the playoffs ignited the Wolves faithful in the stands — but more so the guys on this team. From that point on, the Wolves bench stood for most of the game.
When forward Macauley Carson scored on the power play — one of the nicest goals all season — the old Elgin St. barn was rocking. The chants of “Go Wolves Go” started and were strong throughout the game.
Special teams were good for the Wolves, with Pezzetta’s short-handed snipe being the game winner. Danil Antropov would add to the Generals score in the third but it was all Sudbury goalie Jake McGrath after that.
A save that McGrath made in the last 30 seconds had everyone up on their feet. For a rookie goaltender, who is playing at another level right now, this just adds to his confidence level and I think there is still more to uncover about how skilled he truly is.
The Generals are not going to go away without a fight, nor do the Wolves expect them to — but Sudbury seems ready to fight that much harder and pull out another two wins and punch its ticket into the second round.
Wolves in 5! Generals are done!
I agree with Pezetta on this will be Series Win for the Wolves.
The Wolves are pumped up and it shows in the way the Wolves are, playing.
Good article Amanda.
There is that strong sense of belief, and it’s contagious. You can’t help but be excited about the way they are playing. Thank you for your kind words!
The old Barn was rocking last night with 3700+ Fans it would be nice to see 4000+ for the next game GO WOLVES GO!
Wasn’t it an incredible atmosphere last night?