Rinkside: ‘Stealing’ a win, a solution,’ we just didn’t do it’ and around the league

“It was pretty clear he stole that one,” said head coach John Dean, reflecting on Landon Miller’s standout performance just before Halloween, where he ‘stole’ a victory against the Spitfires.

In a game played in the border city, the Soo goaltender made 31 saves, leading the Hounds to a 3-1 win over the Spits on Wednesday night.

“It was obvious he stole that one,” Dean noted. “The last 40 minutes were a tough battle, particularly in the second period. I can’t fully express how well Miller played; he truly saved that game for us.”

Miller faced 15 shots in the second period alone, marking his fourth straight win.

“It’s the goalie’s responsibility to step up and support the team when things aren’t going well,” Miller stated.

Owen Allard, an overage player, praised Miller, calling him an “absolute stud.”

“That game could have gotten out of hand quickly,” Allard commented. “It was the best performance I’ve ever seen from him. He was composed and made crucial saves.”

Allard later sealed the victory with an empty-net goal at 18:52 in the third period. Since returning from a stint in professional hockey, he has scored two goals and recorded two assists in three games.

Marco Mignosa also shone, scoring two first-period goals that gave the Hounds a 2-0 lead after the first 20 minutes.

“Miller kept us in the game, especially during that tough second period,” Mignosa said. “All credit goes to him; he was phenomenal.” Miller was named the game’s first star for his exceptional play.

Mignosa earned the second star for his three-point night, assisting on Allard’s empty-net goal that confirmed the team’s fifth consecutive victory.

Since returning from a viral infection, Mignosa has contributed three goals and three assists in three games.

“I missed it a lot, and my linemates have been fantastic,” Mignosa said about his resurgence.

Currently, Mignosa is playing alongside Allard and Noel Nordh.

The Hounds will face the OHL champion Knights in London on Friday for their first meeting of the season, with puck drop at 7 p.m.

Finding Solutions

Before this current four-game winning streak, Miller had struggled through a well-publicized slump.

He was pulled in back-to-back games against Saginaw and Windsor, giving up seven goals on 18 shots in just over 31 minutes of play.

In his last two starts, however, Miller has stopped 61 of 64 shots faced.

His recent success can be attributed to a mindset shift.

“When I let in a few quick goals, my mind would race, and I wouldn’t be fully engaged,” Miller explained. “I found a solution. I’ve spoken with sports psychologists who provided me with tools to improve my focus.”

Not Doing Enough

The disparity in compete level and engagement between the first and second periods was stark.

Dean labeled the first period as the “best performance of the season” but criticized the second period as “passive.”

While shots on goal can sometimes be misleading, in this case, they told a clear story: the Hounds were outshot 15-1 in the second period.

“I felt we completely lost our structure and weren’t engaged in any battles,” Dean remarked. “We looked like a team lacking experience against a strong opponent. It was a learning opportunity for us. While we managed to win, we didn’t fully believe in ourselves as a good team.”

Allard acknowledged the team’s tendency to play conservatively.

Dean anticipated that the Spitfires would come out strong in the second period. He attempted to warn his team, but he sensed a lack of confidence in their ability to respond effectively.

“Good teams push back and let their opponents know that their momentum won’t last,” Dean stated.

While he credited the Spitfires for ramping up their intensity, Dean emphasized that many of the issues stemmed from his own team’s performance.

“There was a lot we could have done better,” he concluded. “We just didn’t do it.”

Ice Chips

On October 28, the Spitfires held the top spot in the OHL power rankings. The Hounds moved up three positions to 13th. Additionally, Ben Leeson from the Sudbury Star confirmed that Wolves forward Quentin Musty will return to the team after requesting a trade earlier this month and is expected to play this weekend.

Hounds center Brady Martin was recognized as an ‘A’ player in the recent NHL Central Scouting Players to Watch List, while Travis Hayes was ranked as a ‘C’ player. Charlie Hilton and Brady Smith were both designated as ‘W’ players. An ‘A’ ranking indicates a first-round candidate, while ‘C’ suggests a fourth or fifth-round candidate and ‘W’ a sixth or seventh-round candidate.

The OHL’s top draft-eligible prospects will face off in the Connor McDavid OHL Top Prospects Game, scheduled for January 15 at the Civic Centre in Brantford.