While getting traded wasn’t easy, Nolan Lalonde has seemingly found a groove through his past two starts with the Soo Greyhounds.
The overage netminder, acquired in a deal with the Kingston Frontenacs prior to the Ontario Hockey League trade deadline, posted back-to-back shutouts on the Greyhounds three-game road trip this weekend.
The shutouts included a 24-save performance on Sunday afternoon as the Greyhounds blanked the Ottawa 67’s 3-0 at TD Place in Ottawa.
For Lalonde though, he’s more than happy to share the credit.
“The guys made it easy on me this weekend,” Lalonde said.
Lalonde was also in goal Thursday night when the Greyhounds blanked the Petes in Peterborough. The veteran has stopped 79 of 82 shots over his past three starts.
“It’s a credit to the group again and the staff,” Lalonde said of the stretch in his last three starts. “They brought me in and said ‘Hey, we’re not putting any extra pressure on you. We just want you to go out there and play.’ They’ve been amazing with me and just given me a chance to play and not think too much and just be able to enjoy it.”
Speaking specifically on Sunday’s win, Lalonde spoke of “just how good we were defensively the whole game.”
“They didn’t give up too much,” Lalonde said of his teammates. “They were blocking shots. They kept it simple, and we got rewarded for it.”
Greyhounds coach John Dean called Lalonde “a modest, humble guy.”
“He really settles things down for us and played a heck of a game,” Dean added.
Dean added he felt “the D corps did an absolutely fabulous job of blocking shots, boxing out, and making it difficult for Ottawa to get inside.”
Asked what he liked most about Sunday’s victory from his team, Dean said “mindset.”
“We chose pace and speed before playmaking,” Dean said. “Then when playmaking opportunities were there, we made them. Decision-making in this game is everything. Choosing when and when not to use your skill is probably the most critical factor of success of a hockey club.”
Rookie defenceman Chase Reid credited the Greyhounds defensive play in the victory as well.
“Our D zone was really crisp,’ Reid said. “We were getting pucks out and forechecking really hard.”
Reid added he felt the Greyhounds didn’t overcomplicate things defensively as well.
On the offensive side of the game, rookie forward Jordan Charron said there was a lot to like as well.
“Our hunt was good today,” Charron said, adding the Greyhounds did a good job of getting pucks in behind the Ottawa defence and putting pressure on them.
The Greyhounds opened up a 1-0 lead through one period as Reid had his shot from the point deflected past Ottawa starter Colin MacKenzie by Owen Allard in tight on the power play at 11:19.
After outshooting the 67's by a 10-4 margin in the opening period, the Greyhounds made it a 2-0 game in the middle stanza as Brady T. Smith scored his third with the team since being acquired from the Ottawa Generals. The rookie picked up a loose puck in the right faceoff circle after Brady Martin attempted to step around an Ottawa player. Smith then took a sharp angle shot from the circle that beat MacKenzie high short side at 4:44.
With 31.1 seconds to go in the second period, Charron extended the lead further for the Greyhounds.
The rookie forward beat Ottawa defenceman Matthew Mayich skating down the right wing and cut to the net before sliding the puck past MacKenzie for a goal that ultimately capped off the scoring. The goal came just after a penalty to Sault defenceman Brodie McConell-Barker had expired.
“Brodes came out of the box there after the penalty and I thought I had the defenceman beat,” Charron said. “Brodie fed me the puck and I beat (the defenceman) wide and saw the goalie going east-west so I went five-hole.”
Dean called Charron’s goal “huge.”
Reid finished the night with a pair of helpers for the Greyhounds.
The assists extend Reid’s points streak to six consecutive games. The defenceman has points in 11 of his 15 games since signing with the Greyhounds.
MacKenzie made 25 saves for the 67's in the loss.
The Greyhounds now return home ahead of a four-game homestand that kicks off Friday night with a game against the Flint Firebirds.
Reid called winning two of three games a confidence boost heading into the homestand.
“We have to keep it rolling,” Reid said.
“It gives us a blueprint for how we’re supposed to play,” Dean added.
With Sunday’s victory, the Greyhounds improve to 18-24-1-0 and sit six points ahead of the Guelph Storm and Owen Sound Attack for eighth in the OHL’s Western Conference. The Storm and Attack each have a game in hand on the Greyhounds.
The Greyhounds also sit two points behind the Sarnia Sting for seventh and three points back of Flint for sixth. All three teams have played 43 games.
Ottawa falls to 14-20-3-5 with the loss.
Greyhounds defenceman Caeden Carlisle left the game in the second period due to injury after taking a puck to the face.
The overage blueliner appeared to be cut on the play.
Dean said the severity of Carlisle’s injury wasn’t known when talking to reporters following the game. Dean did confirm the veteran had gone to hospital.