Sudbury Falls Again...

Coach Sutton after repairs...

Miners can’t handle the Islanders, lose 4-1. 

CANADIAN PRESS (Sudbury, ON) –

T.J Oshie had a pair of goals and Louis Domingue made 20 saves as the visiting Sanibel Islanders cruised to a 4-1 victory over the slumping Sudbury Miners on Saturday night.

“We're just squeezing our sticks," Miners forward Ben Smith said. "We are in a bit of a rut lately, and we just need a win so we can have a breather. It's not a good time right now. We need to figure it out and figure it out soon."

The Islanders jumped in front on Matt Cullen's ninth goal of the season 8:17 into the game.  Miners defenceman Jordie Benn created the chance for Sanibel, turning the puck over in Sudbury's zone to Matt Read. The Islanders winger pushed the puck forward to Cullen, who got behind the Miners defence and beat goalie Ben Bishop 1-on-1.

"You come out strong, that's huge for us," Cullen said.

Sanibel added two more in the second on goals by Oshie and Dion Phaneuf to extend the lead to 3-0.

Jesper Fast had the lone goal for Sudbury, and Bishop stopped 20 shots in his second consecutive start as Jake Allen continues to be out with a hand injury.

"Our goalie was outstanding tonight," Miners coach Derek Suttin said, who was struck by a puck earlier in the contest. "He was by far our best player. We didn't have enough contributions.  We would have needed 20 guys, plus Bishop's effort.  We didn’t get that tonight."

The Miners will play their third game in four nights as the Siberia IceCats make the trip to Sudbury.  Game time at the Vale Centre is 7:00pm.


MINERS NUGGETS

- Coach Derek Sutton was struck be an errand puck early in the second period, when Islanders defenseman, Dion Phaneuf, tried to clear the puck during a penalty kill.  Sutton left briefly for repairs and was back behind the bench to finish the game, sporting a nice bandage.

- The Miners power play was 1 for 4 on the night and but still sits near the basement, 20th overall, at a paltry 12.4%. 

- G Jake Allen took the warm-up and will be available on an emergency basis.  Allen is almost fully recovered from the hand injury he suffered earlier in the week versus the Ottawa Barracudas.