Last weekend, the Wolves showed up like a new team against Windsor and Kingston looking, playing a physical and smart brand of hockey — and it helped them to two consecutive wins for the first time this season.
Goalie Troy Timpano was stellar, going 2-0 with a 0.50 goals-against-average and a .986 save percentage and earning his first career OHL shut-out in the process.
Sudbury allowed one goal against in the two victories, which was key after allowing 12 the previous weekend against Oshawa and Mississauga, on top of taking two losses.
Keeping goals against down will be a factor against the competition this weekend.
“It is important we continue to play that way because it is how we have to play,” Sudbury head coach Paul Fixter said. “It is a commitment … and it comes down to a buy-in by the players. They have to play the right way for us to win more games.”
The Wolves also paid the price by throwing their bodies into harm’s way to block shots and take hits in order to make plays.
“We have this saying if we get 50 hits and 50 blocked shots, combined, we will win the game,” forward Jacob Harris said after the defeat of Kingston. “I think if we continue to keep that mindset, continue to get those numbers, I think we’re going to keep winning some games.”
Forward Matt Schmalz is forging a true breakout campaign, with 16 goals and 22 points in 30 games. In his first two seasons, Schmalz had seven goals and 18 points in 115 games.
Forward Brody Silk remains out of the lineup due to an eight-game suspension. He returns Dec. 30 against Mississauga. Forward Pavel Jenys will also be out as he is still at the Czech world junior camp.
Enemy Lines
Colts and Steelheads
Barrie
The Colts are enjoying an outstanding December so far and has the team stampeding up the standings. In their first five games of the month, the Colts went 5-0. Barrie hosts Plymouth on Thursday before heading up the highway to take on the Wolves on Friday night.
The Colts have won all three meetings against Sudbury this season. Forward Andrew Mangiapane has five goals and nine points in three games versus Sudbury. The Big Three in Barrie — Mangiapane, Kevin Lebanc and Joseph Blandisi — have a combined 53 goals and 138 points in the first 29 games. Stopping this three-headed monster is nearly impossible, so containing them will be the main focus. Labanc has been especially hot in December with four goals and 13 points in his first five games of the month.
Mississauga
The Steelheads are battling to be a .500 team and can be a deceptive foe to deal with. Mississauga has won both regular season meetings against Sudbury.
Forward Josh Burnside has three goals and four points versus Sudbury. The Steelheads swung a major deal in November with Saginaw to acquire forward Jimmy Lodge, who responded with six goals and eight points in his first eight games.
Goalie Martin Spencer has been a stud against Sudbury, winning both games and forging a 1.50 goals-against-average and .957 save percentage.
