Michal Neuvirth stops 42 shots as Plymouth blanks Sault Ste. Marie 6-0

Canadian Press
Jan 27, 2007, 10:03 PM EST

PLYMOUTH, Mich. (CP) - Michal Neuvirth made 42 saves and Sean O'Connor had two goals and an assist as the Plymouth Whalers downed the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds 6-0 in Ontario Hockey League action Saturday.

Neuvirth, who nearly blanked the Ottawa 67s the previous evening, recorded his fourth shutout of the season and increased his OHL-best save percentage to .933.

"Ever since I've gotten here, (Neuvirth) has been phenomenal," O'Connor. "He stays focused and doesn't give up many hard rebounds."

Since being acquired from the Erie Otters at the January 10th trade deadline, O'Connor has ten points in seven games. Plymouth (32-12-1-2) has now won seven of eight games, with the lone blemish a 5-2 loss in Sault Ste. Marie January 19th.

"We didn't play well up in the Soo the last time," commented O'Connor, the Trenton, Mich. product who turns 20 next Wednesday.

"They outworked us so we talked about it among ourselves before the game and we felt we owed them one for the beating they gave us up there."

James Neal and defenceman Ryan McGinnis each had a goal and an assist for the Whalers, who maintained their seven point lead over Saginaw in the OHL West Division.

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