Music: {allcanada} OHL: WOLVES DOWN 67'S TO TAKE 2-0 SERIES LEAD

Monday, March 28, 2011

{allcanada} OHL: WOLVES DOWN 67'S TO TAKE 2-0 SERIES LEAD

Andrey Kuchin is helping the Sudbury Wolves put Ottawa in a hole.

Kuchin had two goals and an assist and Charlie Dodero scored the game-winner on a penalty shot as the Wolves defeated the 67's 5-3 in Ontario Hockey League playoff action Monday.

Kuchin has eight points (five goals, three assists) through two games as Sudbury now leads the Eastern Conference quarter-final 2-0. Game 3 is Tuesday in Sudbury, Ont.

Sudbury and Ottawa battled fiercely through the first two periods, with the Wolves pushing ahead each frame only to have Ottawa rally to tie late in both periods.

Ottawa managed to keep the game even after 40 minutes despite being outshot 33-13.

Elsewhere in the OHL playoff action, it was: Spirit 7, Storm 3; Rangers 3, Whalers 1; and Spitfires 6, Otters 2.

At Sudbury, Ont., the Wolves caught fire in the third scoring three goals to pull away from the 67's, who scored only one in the final frame.

Michael Sgarbossa added a goal and two assists for the Wolves, while linemate Joshua Leivo added two assists. Mike Lomas also scored.

Tyler Toffoli notched a goal and an assist for the 67's, while Marc Zanetti and Sean Monahan each added goals.

Ottawa goaltender Petr Mrazek was phenomenal, stopping 48 of the 53 shots he faced in the loss. Sudbury's Alain Valiquette stopped 15 of the 18 shots he faced in the win.

Spirit 7, Storm 3

Saginaw, Mich., Taylor Beck scored twice and Michael Latta had a pair of goals along with an assist as the Guelph Storm beat the Spirit to take a 2-1 lead in their best-of-seven quarter-final.

The series shifts back to Guelph for Game 4 on Thursday night.

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Rangers 3, Whalers 1

At Kitchener, Ont., Ryan Murphy's power-play goal early in the third lifted Kitchener over the Whalers 3-1 in Game 3, pulling the Rangers back into their Western Conference quarter-final series against Plymouth.

The Rangers now trail 2-1 in the best-of-seven with a chance to even the series on Tuesday in Plymouth, Mich.

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Spitfires 6, Otters 2

At Windsor, Ont., Jack Campbell made 30 saves and the Windsor Spitfires broke open a close game with three goals in just over a minute en route to a win over the Erie Otters.

The Spitfires took a 2-1 lead in the Western Conference quarter-final series. Game 4 is Wednesday in Erie, Pa.