Wolves win wild OT affair: CHL playoffs roundup
Andrey Kuchin scored his third goal of the afternoon with 3:06 gone in overtime Saturday and the Sudbury Wolves opened their Ontario Hockey League playoff series against the Ottawa 67's with a wild 8-7 victory.
Kuchin, one of three players in the game to record a hat-trick, wristed a shot over the shoulder of 67's netminder Shayne Campbell after the Wolves rallied from a 5-4 deficit with three goals in the opening 3 1-2 minutes of the third period, only to give up the lead later in the period.
Kuchin also had two assists, Joshua Leivo also scored three times and added two assists and the third member of the line, Michael Sgarbossa, recorded a goal and five helpers for the visitors.
"It's just one of those nights where everything clicks," Sgarbossa said. "We'll take it and hopefully keep it rolling in Game 2."
The game was played at Scotiabank Place, home of the NHL's Senators, because of a booking at the 67's regular arena.The Wolves now go home to play host to Games 2 and 3 in the best-of-seven series on Monday and Tuesday nights.
"We knew they weren't that comfortable in this rink and neither were we, so we knew if we could come out with some fire and get one here, it would let us go home for two [in good shape]," Sgarbossa said.
Elsewhere in the OHL it was: Plymouth 3, Kitchener 2 (OT); London 5, Owen Sound 1; Mississauga 1, Belleville 0 and Windsor 4, Spitfires 3 (2OT).
QMJHL
It was all about special teams for the Quebec Remparts on Saturday night.
Alexandre Grenier had a power-play goal and also two assists as the Remparts disposed of the Val-d'Or Foruers 6-4 in Quebec Major Junior hockey League playoff action.
All of Quebec's goals came with the man advantage as the Remparts went 6-for-12 on the power play.
Tomas Filippi, Jonathan Audy-Marchessault, Frederick Roy, Vincent Barnard and Joel Champagne all scored for Quebec.
Only Brett Hester could score on Val-d'Or's three power-play opportunities. Matthieu Theriault, Marc-Alain Begin and Connor Gagnon had even-strength markers.
The Remparts lead the series 2-0. The Foreurs will host Game 3 in Val-d'Or on Tuesday.
Elsewhere in the QMJHL it was: P.E.I. 4 Shawinigan 2; Saint John 7 Cape Breton 1; Victoriaville 5 Acadie-Bathurst 1; Gatineau 3 Rimouski 2 (OT); Drummondville 6 Chicoutimi 1 and Lewiston 2 Moncton 1.
WHL
Backup goaltender Deven Dubyk made 38 saves as the Medicine Hat Tigers beat the Brandon Wheat Kings 5-2 Saturday night in Western Hockey League action.
With Medicine Hat's starting goaltender, Tyler Bunz, unavailable due to an undisclosed injury Dubyk's heroics allowed the Tigers to even the best of seven opening round playoff series at one.
Sebastian Owuya, Dylan Bredo, Boston Leier, Cole Grbavac and Linden Vey scored for the Tigers. Scott Glennie had both goals for the Wheat Kings.
Corbin Boes turned away 18 shots for Brandon.
The series will resume Monday in Winnipeg with Brandon's Keystone Centre unavailable due to the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair. Game 4, on Thursday, and Game 6, if necessary, will also be played in Winnipeg.
Elsewhere in the WHL it was: Kootenay 5 Moose Jaw 2; Saskatoon 8 Prince Albert 1; Red Deer 5 Edmonton 1; Portland 4 Everett 0; Spokane 5 Chilliwack 0; Kelowna 7 Prince George 4; Tri-City 5 Vancouver 4.