Sports
Whalers Lose in Game 2 of OHL Semifinals
Plymouth is now down 2-0 in the OHL's Western Conference semifinals.
The Plymouth Whalers took 52 seconds off, and it cost them.
Stefan Noesen scored a goal to put the Whalers up 2-0 with 2:58 left in the second period.
Then, Owen Sound turned on its attack and scored two consecutive goals to tie the contest heading into the final period.
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The Attack went on to win 3-2 to take a 2-0 series lead in the Ontario Hockey League’s Western Conference semifinals.
“We got too comfortable,” Noesen said. “We need to overcome that and learn from it.”
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Less than five minutes into the final frame, Owen Sound’s Roman Berdnikov put the Attack in the lead for good when he slipped a rebound past Plymouth goalie Scott Wedgewood.
Plymouth’s Alex Aleardi had a good scoring chance just a few minutes later when Owen Sound turned the puck over in its own zone. Aleardi tried to squeeze the puck past Owen Sound goalie Scott Stajcer but was stuffed.
Another Attack defensive turnover led to a strong shot by Plymouth’s Tyler Brown, but it clanged off the post.
“We played with urgency in the third,” Brown said. “This was an important game, and we couldn’t lose it. But it’s a long series, and we’re looking forward to Game 3.”
The Whalers lost the series’ opener 4-3 in overtime and now face an uphill battle as they head back to Owen Sound on Monday.
“It’s a must-win,” Plymouth coach Mike Vellucci said. “We can’t go down 3-0, because then we’d have to win four straight. We’ve lost the last two one-goal games, and we’re going to fight for our lives on Monday.”
Vellucci said he didn’t think his team played its best and that it was mental mistakes that led to the two second-period goals.
“We got too relaxed,” he said. “We’re a young team, and they’re an older team. When you get up by two goals, you’ve got to step on their throats.”
Colin MacDonald scored Plymouth’s first-period goal. The Whalers outshot the Attack 9-5 in the first period.
The Attack rallied in the second, though, outshooting Plymouth 21-12.
“We have to play a full 60 minutes, not just 20,” Plymouth’s Beau Schmitz said. “We can’t play one period and expect to win.”
Game 4 of the seven-game series will be Wednesday at Compuware Arena in Plymouth.
