What is going on here?
Can the improbable become reality? Can the underdog Soo Greyhounds add to their two games to none lead and really eliminate the high-powered Sarnia Sting in the first round of the best-of-seven Ontario Hockey League playoff series?
Going into the Western Conference series, we knew what the Greyhounds were capable of on the road, having won 19 of their 33 regular-season victories away from home.
But did anyone out there — besides maybe the Greyhounds themselves — expect seventh-seeded Soo to steal Games 1 and 2 from the second-seeded Sting right in Sarnia?
Good news as far as Sarnia is concerned is that the Sting is also a proven road team, having won 19 games of its own away from home during regular-season play. So while it would not be all that surprising if Sarnia was to win Games 3 and 4 in the Soo, the Sting has little room for error while carrying the added pressure of being down two games to none via 5-3 and 5-2 losses.
And as the Greyhounds have been getting exceptional goaltending from Brandon Halverson, overager Charlie Graham has struggled in the Sting net to the extent that he was pulled after two periods in Game 2.
What is the matter with the veteran-laden, heavily-favoured Sting that loaded up at the trade deadline with the intent of going on a long playoff run?
And another question: Who are these Hounds?
We’ll find out more with Games 3 and 4 set for the Soo on Tuesday and Thursday of this week.
PHOTO: Josh Jacobs and the Sarnia Sting find themselves down two games to none to Blake Speers and the Soo Greyhounds. (Photo by Ali Pearson.)
remember I picked the underdog
Yes you did, Jerry.