Backup earns point
Rangers lose in OT to Wolves
KITCHENER — It wasn’t exactly an easy first assignment for Lucas Pfeil.
Long the doormats of the Ontario Hockey League, the Sudbury Wolves are packing a punch these days.
The club rolled into the Aud Sunday evening on a four-game heater. It was the team’s longest winning streak since 2013, when it had a nine- and five-game run.
And the visitors added a fifth to this year’s tally by squeaking out a 3-2 overtime victory over an exhausted looking Kitchener Rangers squad that was finishing up three games in three days.
“If you look at the goal they scored in overtime I think it was just a bit of a mental lapse in front of the net and that happens when you’re tired,” said Rangers coach Jay McKee.
“The first thing that shuts down is your legs a little bit, but more importantly when guys are tired and have been logging some minutes in tight games your brain starts to slow down.”
Pfeil hadn’t started a game in about a year and a half for the Blueshirts but got the nod Sunday as regular Luke Richardson received a much needed breather after starting the team’s first five tilts.
And while he took the loss, it was a win of sorts for the 18year-old, who proved he could handle one of the hottest clubs in the league.
“I think I did well,” said the keeper, who made 34 saves. “I’ve really worked on my mental pre-game preparation and visualization. I think it has helped me a lot. It’s nice to see all the hard work pay off and get back in there.”
It was a big improvement over his debut in Hamilton on Feb. 20, 2017. Pfeil was playing at Ridley
College back then but was an emergency call-up when veteran goalie Luke Opilka went down with a concussion.
The Owen Sound native allowed five goals on 18 shots in a 5-2 loss in the Dog Pound but has learned a lot since then.
“I think I’ve grown a lot as a goalie not only physically but mentally,” he said. “I play more of a complete game.”
Jack York and Riley Damiani helped Kitchener take a 2-0 lead past the midway mark Sunday before fatigue kicked in.
Sudbury pounced with a pair late in the frame from Darian Pilon and Kirill Nizhnikov and it stayed that way until Blake Murray’s overtime clincher.
“We knew we had potential with this team,” said Pilon. “It was just a matter of coming out and playing hard every day.”
The Wolves have finished last in the OHL’s eastern conference two of the past three seasons but were first overall with a 6-2 record after Sunday’s win.
“We’re playing really simple,” said Pilon. “That’s pretty much what our team is made for. We don’t have elite guys that are just going to go and take the game. We all work hard and all contribute every game.”
Kitchener also lost to Saginaw in overtime on Friday but a 4-3 win against Sarnia Saturday helped the club collect four of a possible six points on the weekend.
As for Pfeil, his next layoff will be brief.
The Rangers play another three-in-three next weekend and will call on their backup for at least one of those games.
“I feel good out there,” said Pfeil. “I just want to keep it going.”