SAULT STE. MARIE - All wins are equal.
But some wins are more equal than others.
Because a four-point swing can be at stake in the standings, games against West Division and Western Conference teams “are more important,” said Hounds head coach Sheldon Keefe, whose club is getting ready for its first two games against conference rivals this weekend.
After opening with six consecutive games against Eastern Conference clubs, the 4-1-0-1 Hounds entertain the Plymouth Whalers Friday and the Windsor Spitfires Saturday.
Both are 7:07 p.m. Essar Centre starts.
“There's a lot more at stake playing against teams in your own division and conference,” said Keefe, whose club is coming off of a 3-2 loss in Kingston last Sunday afternoon. “You're competing with them for the division championship and for playoff positioning.”
“They're 100% more important,” second-year defenceman Tyler Ganly said of division and conference clashes. “This is where we can gain some points for later in the year.”
The Hounds enter tonight's action in top spot in the West Division.
But despite their impressive start, Keefe is concerned about how his team is performing in a number of areas.
“Our overall execution with the puck hasn't been great and wasn't good on the road trip,” noted Keefe, whose team beat Ottawa 4-1 and Belleville 4-0 before losing the final game in Kingston. “We've been sloppy with the puck. Our decision-making, passing and handling of passes all needs to be sharper.”
Keefe said his young team had an eye-opening experience in Kingston.
The coach spoke of how the Greyhounds feel they're playing a fast, up-tempo style.
But the more-experienced Frontenacs “taught us a few lessons with their speed. They showed us what we need to aspire to. We can get faster.”
Keefe also spoke of how the Frontenacs exposed the Hounds in some areas.
“We learned some things about ourselves,” he added. “We definitely have a lot of room to grow.”
“We have to be hard on the backcheck and we have to get to the net more often,” said overage winger Andrew Fritsch, who stands third in team scoring with two goals and five assists for seven points.
With a plus-minus of plus-6, Fritsch is second on the team behind centre Jared McCann's plus-8.
Ganly spoke of how he and his defensive mates “need to move pucks out of our own end more efficiently.”
Keefe said he plans to start veteran netminder Matt Murray, among the Ontario Hockey League leaders with a 2.18 goals against average, both Friday and Saturday.
As for the Whalers, who're typically among the league's best teams, Keefe said he's seen a “big, strong group,” while watching video of this year's Plymouth squad. “They have a lot of new faces, but they still have some very-dangerous forwards.”
The Soo coach also spoke of how impressed he was while watching second-year netminder Alex Nedeljkovic, who has a 2.99 g.a.a. and a saves percentage of .920 through seven games.
“Goaltending is the strength of the team,” Keefe said of the Whalers, who come to town with a 3-5-0-0 record.
Asked about his team's quick start to the 2013-2014 campaign, Fritsch said its given the Hounds some confidence.
“It's shown us that if we work hard, we can play with anybody,” he added.
Questioned as to whether he's surprised by the Soo's 4-1-0-1 record, Fritsch said: “Not at all. We're well-coached guys who're buying in. When you do that, the sky is the limit.”
Notes: Hounds winger Brandon Hughes was hit in the face by a puck during practise this week. Keefe said he's not sure about the rookie's status for Friday's game.
Defenceman Kyle Jenkins, who missed the Belleville and Kingston games last weekend due to an arm injury, is expected back.
But some wins are more equal than others.
Because a four-point swing can be at stake in the standings, games against West Division and Western Conference teams “are more important,” said Hounds head coach Sheldon Keefe, whose club is getting ready for its first two games against conference rivals this weekend.
After opening with six consecutive games against Eastern Conference clubs, the 4-1-0-1 Hounds entertain the Plymouth Whalers Friday and the Windsor Spitfires Saturday.
Both are 7:07 p.m. Essar Centre starts.
“There's a lot more at stake playing against teams in your own division and conference,” said Keefe, whose club is coming off of a 3-2 loss in Kingston last Sunday afternoon. “You're competing with them for the division championship and for playoff positioning.”
“They're 100% more important,” second-year defenceman Tyler Ganly said of division and conference clashes. “This is where we can gain some points for later in the year.”
The Hounds enter tonight's action in top spot in the West Division.
But despite their impressive start, Keefe is concerned about how his team is performing in a number of areas.
“Our overall execution with the puck hasn't been great and wasn't good on the road trip,” noted Keefe, whose team beat Ottawa 4-1 and Belleville 4-0 before losing the final game in Kingston. “We've been sloppy with the puck. Our decision-making, passing and handling of passes all needs to be sharper.”
Keefe said his young team had an eye-opening experience in Kingston.
The coach spoke of how the Greyhounds feel they're playing a fast, up-tempo style.
But the more-experienced Frontenacs “taught us a few lessons with their speed. They showed us what we need to aspire to. We can get faster.”
Keefe also spoke of how the Frontenacs exposed the Hounds in some areas.
“We learned some things about ourselves,” he added. “We definitely have a lot of room to grow.”
“We have to be hard on the backcheck and we have to get to the net more often,” said overage winger Andrew Fritsch, who stands third in team scoring with two goals and five assists for seven points.
With a plus-minus of plus-6, Fritsch is second on the team behind centre Jared McCann's plus-8.
Ganly spoke of how he and his defensive mates “need to move pucks out of our own end more efficiently.”
Keefe said he plans to start veteran netminder Matt Murray, among the Ontario Hockey League leaders with a 2.18 goals against average, both Friday and Saturday.
As for the Whalers, who're typically among the league's best teams, Keefe said he's seen a “big, strong group,” while watching video of this year's Plymouth squad. “They have a lot of new faces, but they still have some very-dangerous forwards.”
The Soo coach also spoke of how impressed he was while watching second-year netminder Alex Nedeljkovic, who has a 2.99 g.a.a. and a saves percentage of .920 through seven games.
“Goaltending is the strength of the team,” Keefe said of the Whalers, who come to town with a 3-5-0-0 record.
Asked about his team's quick start to the 2013-2014 campaign, Fritsch said its given the Hounds some confidence.
“It's shown us that if we work hard, we can play with anybody,” he added.
Questioned as to whether he's surprised by the Soo's 4-1-0-1 record, Fritsch said: “Not at all. We're well-coached guys who're buying in. When you do that, the sky is the limit.”
Notes: Hounds winger Brandon Hughes was hit in the face by a puck during practise this week. Keefe said he's not sure about the rookie's status for Friday's game.
Defenceman Kyle Jenkins, who missed the Belleville and Kingston games last weekend due to an arm injury, is expected back.
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