Penalties and special teams hurt the Miners; lose 2-1 to Isotopes

CANADIAN PRESS (Springfield, IN)
The Miners penalty killing has been the one bright spot in an otherwise trying year so far.

However, the normally reliable special teams had an off night giving up two third period power play goals,
within a span of 20 seconds, as the Sudbury Miners would fall to the Springfield Isotopes 2-1 on Thursday night.

Patrik Hornqvist would score both power play goals for the Isotopes and goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky would make 29 saves for the win. Matthew Tkachuk would also chip in with a pair of assists. Philip Danault would score the lone goal for the Miners and Jake Allen would make 35 saves in goal for the Miners.


The Miners had a hard time staying out of the penalty box all game on Thursday night. The game was a forgettable one for Miners defenseman Toby Enstrom. He would take four minor penalties in the contest and was in the box for Hornqvist’s game winner in the third.

“That was a stupid, uncalled for penalty at that time of the period," admitted Enstrom."You can put yourself in that position. I take full responsibility."

Coach Derek Sutton wasn't happy with it either.

"He should take full responsibility for the penalty," Sutton stated. "Now its 2-1 against a good defensive team. That's a tough hill to come back from.

Sutton hinted that a couple of his players are going to see reduced ice time for their chronic penalty issues.

"It;s the same guys taking penalties and the same types of penalties. Those guys are going to dress but they are going to lose some of their prime real estate ice time,"said the Miners coach, not naming names. "We'll just clean it up with the guys that can control themselves."

Miners next game is Saturday night at 7:00pm on the road versus the Reyjkavik Puffin.

MINERS NUGGETS
- Goaltender Jake Allen continues to get very little offensive support when he plays. His record sits at 1-9 and the Miners average just over a goal game with him in net.

- Despite last night’s poor penalty killing effort, the Miners still sit first overall in the CCHL at 90.1%.