Ang powers bounce-back win
Petes rebound from 9-2, 7-1 losses to beat Frontenacs 6-3 Sunday
That’s more like it.
The Peterborough Petes rebounded from 9-2 and 7-1 losses in their previous two games to avenge a Friday night loss to the Kingston Frontenacs with a 6-3 win Sunday afternoon at the Memorial Centre.
The Petes played both games against Kingston missing five veterans to injury or suspension. It wasn’t that they lost in Kingston, or a week earlier in Mississauga, it was how they lost that upset head coach Jody Hull.
Led by Jonathan Ang’s third four-point game in 11 days the Petes proved a short-staffed lineup can be overcome with a determined team effort. The win also gave the Petes back sole possession of first place in the OHL’s Eastern Conference.
“Guys were maybe feeling sorry for themselves the last couple of games,” Hull said, “but it goes to show if you’re committed to doing the right things and playing the right way and playing as a team, you can have success. We showed that this afternoon.”
The Petes were again without Logan DeNoble, Adam Timleck and Nick Isaacson to upper body injuries, Zach Gallant to a lower body injury and Cole Fraser served the second of a five-game suspension. DeNoble and Gallant practiced Saturday and are inching closer to a return.
“Getting anyone back would be a plus for us right now,” said Hull.
The Petes came out with purpose from the opening whistle and took the lead 5:06 into the game when Ang intercepted a Kingston pass and fed Bobby Dow who rifled a shot over Jeremy Helvig’s glove.
“You could sense the guys were a little different today,” said Hull. “There was a bit of emotion and passion in the game. If you want to move on in the game those are two key components you need as a player and a team.”
“It sucks not having some of our top guys in the lineup,” Dow said, “but you can’t blame us losing that bad on that. We were not preparing properly and weren’t focused enough. It helped playing backto-back against Kingston because we wanted to get back at them quickly.”
The Petes went up by two on a power play as rookie Nick Robertson was tripped with the puck but sprung to his feet to put a low shot home at 15:03.
The Petes also got some breaks as Kingston had two goals disallowed; one because the net was off its moorings and the other because the puck was knocked down by a high stick.
Matyas Svoboda snapped out of a slump 3:06 into the second period to make it 3-0. John Parker-Jones shoveled the puck to Svoboda in the neutral zone and he cruised into Kingston’s zone and snapped a shot five-hole.
“Our whole team wanted to work for this win and we were all on the same page,” said Declan Chisholm. “We were doing the simple things and stuck to the game plan and it worked.”
Hastings’ native Jakob Brahaney got Kingston on the board at 7:05 when his point shot deflected off Alex Black’s stick past goalie Dylan Wells who made 37 saves.
The Petes power play struck again with 6:29 left in the second as Nikita Korostelev blasted a pass from Ang who weaved through the Kingston zone until he found an opening.
Ang picked up his first of two goals with 20 seconds left in the second blowing a shot off the rush top shelf for a 5-1 lead. Ang has 15 points in his past six games.
“We’re not asking him to get four points every night,” said Hull, “but when he can get on the scoreboard it helps him, his linemates and the entire team when he’s going.
“Jonathan really stepped up and it went right through our lineup. There wasn’t one guy from Dylan on out who didn’t contribute in some way.”
Brendan Bonello replaced Helvig for the third and Kingston scored 28 seconds in as Linus Nyman deposited a backhand by Wells. Ang stepped into a Korostelev pass at 5:39 to make it 6-2.
Bryan Laureigh snuck a shortside shot by Wells at 10:30.
NOTES: A new electronic 50-50 draw system went into effect at Sunday’s game with a digital sign showing a running jackpot tally. Ticket prices have also changed. Tickets are available in $5, $10 an $20 bundles with the $2 ticket no longer available. Petes’ director Dave Lorentz said there are also changes to how the proceeds will be spent which will be unveiled at a press conference next week... Note the Petes next game Wednesday in Hamilton is a 10:30 a.m. start as the Bulldogs host a School Day Game. They return home Thursday to host the Oshawa Generals.