Plymouth Faces Saginaw Tonight
Although Plymouth and Saginaw are considered the top teams in the Ontario Hockey League's West Division, they have won just one game between them after the first week of the season.
The Whalers and Spirit meet tonight at 7:11 p.m. at the Dow Event Center in Saginaw (http://www.plymouthwhalers.com, 7:00 pm).
Saginaw lost last Friday night in London (6-3) and their home opener (4-3) last Saturday against Guelph.
"There was good news and bad news in the two losses," Saginaw General Manager and Head Coach Bob Mancini told the Saginaw News. "The bad is we lost two games. The good is we played well against Guelph. (If) we play that way 10 times, we'll win nine."
Saginaw is still waiting for players to return from NHL training camps. Matt Corrente was returned last night from New Jersey and overages Mitch Maunu (Norfolk, AHL) and Ryan Garlock (Phoenix Coyotes) are still away in a bid to make a pro hockey roster.
Plymouth spilt their two games with a 7-3 loss in Sarnia last Friday and a wild, 7-6, shootout win over Erie last Saturday.
The 2,963 fans who attended the Whalers' home opener got their money's worth in excitement. The Whalers rallied from deficits of 4-2 and 6-4 to tie the game in regulation before winning.
Plymouth center Chris Terry - who won three games for the Whalers last season in a shootout - did it again as he beat Erie goaltender Ryan Ludzik with a shot that went five-hole.
"I came down with a pre-set move wanting to fake backhand and then go to my forehand," Terry said. "He (Ludzik) fell for the backhand fake, but took away blocker and poke checked, so the five-hole opened up. So I slid the puck between his legs."
There were plenty of offensive fireworks before Terry's game-winner. James Neal scored twice for Plymouth and now has three goals in two games. Whalers rookie Kaine Geldart scored his first OHL goal, while Jared Boll, Dan Collins (2nd of the year) and Terry all scored single goals in regulation. First star Evan Brophey added five assists for the Whalers. Andrew Hotham scored twice for Erie, while Sean O'Connor, Mitch Gaulton, Josh Vatri and Derrick Bagshaw scored singles.
Whalers fought from behind in another way as they were shorthanded 17 times and went 14-for-17 on the penalty kill. Referee Shaun Davis sent a constant parade of skaters to both penalty boxes all night long. Plymouth went 2-for-11 of the power play.
With the game tied a 2-2 after one period, Erie opened up a 4-2 lead in the second frame on goals by Hotham (9:43) and Bagshaw (11:37). Plymouth tied the game at 4-4 when Neal scored his second goal of the game at 12:06 of the second period and Boll batted home a rebound at 15:51. Hotham scored again at 19:04 of the second period and Erie led 5-4 after forty minutes.
Gaulton scored his first OHL goal at 11:35 of the third period to give Erie a 6-4 lead, but Plymouth came back in the period to tie the game on Collins' goal at 14:26 and Terry's goal at 16:32.
After a scoreless overtime, Hodgman appeared to score for Erie in the shootout, but video replay showed the puck went over the goal line after the net was off its' moorings. That set the stage for Terry's shootout winner, which was preserved when Plymouth goaltender Jeremy Smith (Brownstown) stopped Hotham on the final shot of the shootout.
Plymouth outshot Erie, 34-28, through 65 minutes.
In all, Plymouth was shorthanded 33 times over the two first two games of the season. On the positive side, the Whalers didn't quit on Saturday and battled hard for the victory over Erie.
"I don't think we were meshing together as a team yet," said Whalers captain Steve Ward. "We have a lot of guys coming back from NHL camps. It would have been nice to have a better weekend, but I think we had a good second game against Erie, and we'll go from there."
"The mindset we have is to never quit and that's what happened against Erie."
WHALERS' GOAL - SCORE ASSIST FROM FANS FOR GOALIE MASK DESIGN
A goaltender's mask is often an extension of a netminder's personality. Former Whaler goaltender Robert Esche - now with the Philadelphia Flyers - has gone from a theme of the United States to Kid Rock on his masks over the course of his National Hockey League career.
Although Esche has been called "Silent Bob" from time to time by the Philadelphia media, his mask speaks volumes.
With that in mind, the Whalers are asking fans of all ages to design a mask for one of the Plymouth goaltenders. The winning design will be used this season by Michal Neuvirth, Jeremy Smith or Kyle Jendra.
"We want the fans to have fun with it," said Plymouth President General Manager and Head Coach Mike Vellucci. "We have an excellent fan base with a lot of kids. Our players enjoy interacting with kids and this is a way we can all have a little fun."
Fans of all ages can submit their entries in a number of ways:
Bring the design to the Fan Assistance Center (located behind Section 120) during a Whalers' home game or any time during business hours to the Compuware Sports Arena Main Office.
Email the design to the Whalers Office at
[email protected]
FAX the design to the Whalers Office at (734) 453-4201.
The person submitting the winning design will win the following:
A night at a Whalers game for the entire family, including dinner at Ginopolis on the Ice before or after the game.
A personal tour of the Whalers locker room and an opportunity to meet the Whalers.
An autographed replica jersey and other Plymouth memorabilia.
An interview for the Whalers game program and other publications.
A prize package of fun from the Whalers and the team's Corporate Sponsors.
Deadline for the contest is Friday, October 20 when Plymouth hosts Brampton.
WHALERS PLAY IN SAGINAW TONIGHT, IN GUELPH on FRIDAY, HOST SAULT STE. MARIE on SATURDAY: After opening up the week in Saginaw tonight and then traveling to Guelph on Friday to take on the 3-0 Storm, the Whalers host Sault Ste. Marie this Saturday at the Compuware Sports Arena at 7:05 p.m. Tickets ($14 and $10) are available by calling the Compuware Sports Arena at (734) 453-8400, or by going to Ticketmaster at www.ticketmaster.com. Ticketmaster can be called at (248) 645-6666.
Saturday's game is Team Poster Night and we'll have another Ginopolis Post-Game Party, featuring Dan Collins, John Armstrong, James Neal and Zack Shepley.
After Saturday's game, Plymouth hits the road for three games - Sat. Oct. 7 in Owen Sound, Sun. Oct. 8 in Mississauga and Fri. Oct. 13 in Erie - before returning home on Sat. Oct. 14 against London.