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Wolves win a wild one

Sudbury 9, Peterborough 6

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Not content to hit the highlight reel with his first major-junior goal, Chase Stillman added three more — including another that could make the OHL Plays of the Week — as the Sudbury Wolves won a wild one, 9-6 over the Peterborough Petes at Sudbury Community Arena on Friday night.

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“It was awesome,” beamed the 16-year-old rookie, describing his hat trick. “It’s my first one and it was unbelievable. I can’t really describe the feeling right now.”

Stillman was eager to text his brother Riley, a former OHL blueliner and Florida Panthers prospect, with a photo of his souvenir puck, but when asked if he might tease his older brother with his impressive stats, the freshman shook his head.

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“He has been nothing but helpful for me,” Stillman said. “I called him last night, just to let him know how I was doing and he’s trying to make Florida still. I can’t make fun of that guy at all. He’s doing really well where he’s playing now. My family has been super supportive of me this year.”

Blake Murray, Jack Thompson, Owen Gilhula, Macauley Carson, Quinton Byfield and Shane Bulitka, with the game winner, supplied the goals for Sudbury, while Mitchell Weeks made 23 saves in relief of Christian Purboo to help stretch Sudbury’s win streak for four games, despite briefly giving up their lead in the second stanza.

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“We started off strong, got the first goal,” Stillman recalled. “Purbs came out of the net, but it just wasn’t his night tonight, that happens to everyone, and when Weeksy came in, the team rallied back and we started playing a lot better, and for us to capitalize on most of our chances, it’s really good for us.

“It’s a total confidence-booster, for sure. I think this year and even last year, when we’re down goals, I don’t think we get nervous, we don’t tense up, we just keep playing. We have a lot of guys on our team this year who can score goals and it counts.”

Sudbury Wolves goalie Christian Purboo (1) watches the play while Peterborough Petes captain Zach Gallant (11) looks to provide a screen during first-period OHL action at Sudbury Community Arena in Sudbury, Ontario on Friday, October 4, 2019.
Sudbury Wolves goalie Christian Purboo (1) watches the play while Peterborough Petes captain Zach Gallant (11) looks to provide a screen during first-period OHL action at Sudbury Community Arena in Sudbury, Ontario on Friday, October 4, 2019. Photo by Ben Leeson/The Sudbury Star/Postmedia Network

Nick Robertson and Liam Kirk, with two each, Michael Little and Semyon Der-Arguchintsev scored for the Petes, while Tye Austin made 23 stops, as well.

Wolves forward David Levin, a standout with four assists, said Friday’s result showed just how much skill — and depth — the locals have.

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“It’s not one line, it’s everyone, starting from the goalie and going all the way to the coaching staff and the management staff — everyone did his best to win the game,” Levin said. “It’s really important for us to win each game and it’s helping us moving forward to the playoffs. We blocked shots, we forechecked hard, we back checked, and that’s what happens when you do that.”

The Wolves needed only 33 seconds to get on the board in the opening period, as Murray finished on a feed from Levin. Carson also assisted on Murray’s fourth of the season.

Thompson snuck in from the point and converted a pass from Byfield for a power-play goal, also his fourth, at 3:24. Kalle Loponen had the other assist.

Peterborough replied, though, on their first shot of a game, a point blast by Little that sailed past a screened Purboo at 6:05.

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Sudbury added to its lead with another man-advantage marker, Gilhula’s third tally of the season, at 8:39. Carson and Levin had helpers once again.

Der-Arguchintsev got one back at 9:30, on a play where Purboo may have been screened again as Robertson slipped behind his defence.

The first was a physical frame, with Hutcheson laying a big hit before engaging John Parker-Jones in a spirited tilt, and Bulitka taking on Max Grondin after a high cross-check on Byfield.

Shots were a lopsided 12-2 in the Wolves’ favour after one period.

The tables turned quickly in the second, however, as the visitors scored three straight before the home side could reply.

Kirk who tipped a point shot by Shawn Spearing at 2:14, ending Purboo’s night early, then Robertson scored on a wicked shot from the slot on a power play at 3:50.

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Firmly on their heels, the Wolves allowed one more marker, on a nifty backhand by Robertson at the 8:05 mark, before Carson stemmed the tide at 10:36.

Levin centred for Gilhula off the rush, and the veteran ripped a shot off the end boards and onto the ready stick of Carson for a quick tap-in, his second of the season.

Sudbury Wolves defenceman Jack Thompson (22) plays the puck while under pressure from Peterborough Petes forward Chad Denault (22) during first-period OHL action at Sudbury Community Arena in Sudbury, Ontario on Friday, October 4, 2019.
Sudbury Wolves defenceman Jack Thompson (22) plays the puck while under pressure from Peterborough Petes forward Chad Denault (22) during first-period OHL action at Sudbury Community Arena in Sudbury, Ontario on Friday, October 4, 2019. Photo by Ben Leeson/The Sudbury Star/Postmedia Network

Levin has enjoyed the chemistry with Carson and Gilhula, both fellow veterans who have spent their entire OHL careers in the Nickel City. The trio combined for nine points on Friday.

“When we show our best game, myself, Carson and Gilhula, when we finish hits and when we have shots on net, when we back check and all that stuff, all the young guys see what we do and I think that’s helping them to move on with the game and they do the same things as we do,” Levin said.

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Byfield knotted the score with his team-leading seventh with a hard wrister on the power play at 13:48.

Weeks seemed to settle in after a couple of quick goals, turning the Petes aside on repeated chances before his teammates regained composure and control.

Austin was also sharp in the Peterborough crease, turning aside the likes of Thompson, Carson and Landon McCallum, who also came close to potting his first OHL goal.

Sudbury was outshot 17-13 in the period, and even trailed 9-3 at one point, but maintained a 25-19 advantage after 40 minutes.

Stillman scored his first of the evening after Owen Robinson made a hard drive to the net, allowing him to bury a rebound at 2:56 of the third. Levin also assisted.

Bulitka whirled and fired from the top of the circle for his third of the season, the eventual game-winner at 3:38. Byfield and Thompson had assists.

Kirk scored on another redirect at 5:44 to make it a one-goal game, but Stillman responded with another excellent effort, picking up the puck off a turnover and putting on a burst of speed before beating Austin with a low drive at 8:13.

The Petes pulled Austin with about two minutes remaining and the Wolves missed the open net twice before Stillman added the empty-netter at 19:44.

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Final shots were 32-31 in the Wolves’ favour.

The Wolves will look for a fifth straight victory when they visit the Soo Greyhounds on Saturday at 7:07 p.m.

“Everything is the same for us — we just go into the game to win the game,” Levin said. “We’re just going to play like today, play hard, block shots, finish hits.”

bleeson@postmedia.com

Twitter: @ben_leeson

Peterborough Petes forward Nick Robertson (16) streaks into the Sudbury Wolves zone while Sudbury Wolves forward David Levin (71) gives chase during first-period OHL action at Sudbury Community Arena in Sudbury, Ontario on Friday, October 4, 2019.
Peterborough Petes forward Nick Robertson (16) streaks into the Sudbury Wolves zone while Sudbury Wolves forward David Levin (71) gives chase during first-period OHL action at Sudbury Community Arena in Sudbury, Ontario on Friday, October 4, 2019. Photo by Ben Leeson/The Sudbury Star/Postmedia Network
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