Peterborough Petes Fight Off Comeback Bid and Escape With Road Win Over Sudbury

The Peterborough Petes almost saw the Sudbury Wolves make a huge comeback but they were able to hold on for the 5-4 victory at the Sudbury Community Arena on Sunday afternoon.

The Petes are third in the East Division with a 9-7-1-1 record. Photo courtesy of the Sudbury Wolves.

Peterborough wasted no time getting on the scoreboard as Yanis Lutz took a drop pass from Leon Kolarik and roofed one home to make it 1-0 just 67 seconds in. With 87 seconds left in the period, Colin Fitzgerald chipped a puck to himself from the defensive zone. He opted for the solo mission going end-to-end and scored short side for a 2-0 lead going into the second period.

The Petes kept their feet on the gas pedal and struck again early in the second period. Aiden Young entered the offensive zone with numbers and scored from the high slot for a 3-0 lead. Just under four minutes later, Matthew Perreault thought he scored from a point shot but it went off the post. However, Adam Novotný picked up the loose puck and scored on the wraparound for a 4-0 Petes lead.

Sudbury got on the board six minutes later and made it 4-1 thanks to Rowan Henderson on the power play. Peterborough’s forecheck caused a turnover in Sudbury’s defensive zone and immediately capitalized as Young fired it from the point and scored for a 5-1 game going into the final frame.

The home team was not going to go away quietly as Nathan Villneuve scored just past the halfway mark of the period. Sudbury struck again 31 seconds later after an Artem Gonchar goal and the lead was down to two. Henderson scored his second of the game for the Wolves to pull to within one goal in the final 2:31 of regulation.

The Wolves had peppered Petes goaltender Easton Rye with 12 shots in the period, totalling 38 but could not find the back of the net one more time and Peterborough escapes Sudbury with a 5-4 win.

The Petes host the rival Oshawa Generals for their Remembrance Day Game in support of Wounded Warriors Canada on Tuesday night. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at the Peterborough Memorial Centre.

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