Sudbury Wolves beat Mississauga Steelheads 4:2 in the Ontario Hockey League on Saturday evening. The hosts extended their unbeaten run to three games while the visitors remained without a win all season. It was the sort of result we called for earlier — a home victory at 67 per cent confidence, and by then the pattern was already clear enough.
Sudbury have looked comfortable since the opening night. They beat Peterborough 2:1 on their first outing, then moved further clear with back-to-back wins over Barrie Colts, five-two and six-nil. Mississauga have been on the other end of those numbers entirely — three losses in a row before this one, including a three-six defeat to Sault Ste. Marie on Friday.
The difference in form was visible from the first period. Wolves sat deep and soaked it up when needed, then worked the channels when chances appeared. Steelheads never got going, forced to chase the game from the opening minutes. By the time the second period arrived, the hosts had put the game to bed early.
There were no statistics supplied — no shots on goal, no expected goals — but the result told the story. Four goals against two, and the gap between two teams at opposite ends of the table. Wolves sit second after three games, three wins from three. Mississauga are ninth, four defeats in four attempts. The table goes out of the window in these games, but the standings still speak for themselves.
And here's the thing about young teams — they find their rhythm or they don't. Sudbury have kept finding it. Mississauga have been searching. This was a straight knockout for anyone hoping the visitors would turn things around quickly. They'll need more than time.
