Trocheck continues to produce as Whalers take 1-0 series lead

Vincent Trocheck had three goals and two assists and Tom Wilson had a goal and three assists as the Plymouth Whalers crushed the visiting Sarnia Sting 11-2 on Friday in Ontario Hockey League playoff action.

Stefan Noesen scored twice and added an assist for the Whalers, who entered the post-season on an eight-game win streak, and Garret Meurs also had two goals in Game 1.

Mathew Mistele had a goal and two assists, Cody Payne scored once and Gianluca Curcuruto scored his first-career playoff goal to round out Plymouth's scoring.

Plymouth had a total of eight skaters who recorded a multi-point game including Nick Malysa, who earned the game's first star with three assists. Zach Lorentz and Connor Carrick each chipped in with two assists.

Trocheck, who was the OHL's regular-season scoring leader, was acquired in January from the Saginaw Spirit and has been a solid addition for Plymouth after recording 26 goals and 59 points in just 28 games with the Whalers. Entering the post-season, the 19-year-old held a 21-game point streak.

"We were coming along well as team before Trocheck, but I feel with his addition, it has helped our team in a great way and we just really took off," said Meurs.

Reid Boucher and Charles Sarault scored for the Sting while Nikolay Goldobin and Craig Duininck both went minus-5.

Alex Nedeljkovic made 31 saves for the win as JP Anderson picked up the loss after allowing 11 goals on 50 shots.

Plymouth went 2 for 6 on the power play while Sarnia scored twice on nine chances with the man advantage.

The Whalers lead the series 1-0 and will host Game 2 on March 23 at Compuware Arena.

Elsewhere in the OHL, it was: Oshawa 5, Niagara 2; Kitchener 5, Guelph 2 and London 5, Saginaw 2.

At Plymouth, Mich., Trocheck and Wilson scored a little over four minutes apart to give the Whalers a 2-0 lead 6:38 into the first period.

Sarault responded for Sarnia at 10:39, however Meurs, Trocheck and Noesen each scored in the span of 5:33 to make it 5-1 Plymouth after 20 minutes of action.

Meurs and Noesen both scored their second goals of the game early in the second period before Boucher halted Plymouth's offensive surge at 12:18.

Curcuruto added another for the Whalers to take a comanding 8-2 lead into the third period.

Having already put 31 shots against Anderson through the first 40 minutes, Plymouth came out in the third and sprayed him with another 19, scoring three more times in the process.

Trocheck completed his hat trick 1:14 into the period and Mistele and Payne tacked on a goal each.

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Generals 5 IceDogs 2

At Oshawa, Ont., Scott Laughton scored twice and Lucas Lessio and Michael Dal Colle each had a goal and an assist as the Generals defeated Niagara to take a 1-0 series lead.

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Rangers 5 Storm 2

At Kitchener, Ont., Ryan Murphy scored twice, Joshua Leivo had three assists and John Gibson stopped 36 shots as the Rangers took Game 1 of their first-round matchup against Guelph.

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Knights 5 Spirit 2

At London, Ont., Max Domi scored twice and set up one more while Chris Tierney chipped in with three assists as the OHL's top club, the Knights, downed Saginaw for a 1-0 series advantage.