Hounds claw back for win over Spits

For the Soo Greyhounds, every point they earn in the standings is important until the end of the season.

With the Erie Otters riding on their coattails in hopes of sneaking past them into the playoffs, the Greyhounds picked up an important win on Friday night as they battled back to defeat the Windsor Spitfires 5-3. The Greyhounds trailed the game 3-2 before scoring three third period goals en route to the win.

The two teams battled to a scoreless first period before Dustin Jeffrey opened the scoring for the Greyhounds early in the second period with a power play marker at 5:05.

The Spitfires wasted little time though in getting the game back on even terms as Bradley Snetsinger tied the game just 18 seconds later. Snetsinger then proceeded to score a power play goal at 9:20 to give the Spitfires the lead.

Hounds rookie defenceman Michael Quesnele pulled the locals back to even terms when his point shot through a crowd beat Spitfires goaltender Anthony Guadagnolo on the power play at 17:32.

Another power play goal for the Spitfires, this one in the final minute of the period by Mitch Maunu, set the stage for the Greyhounds rally.

Hounds defenceman Trevor Solomon got the ball rolling at 12:27 when, with the Greyhounds on the power play, he fired a shot past Guadagnolo to tie the game.

Shortly after, Hounds veteran Cody Thornton gave the Greyhounds their first lead of the night when he potted the Greyhounds first even strength goal of the evening and then sealed the win with an empty net goal in the final seconds of the game.

Thornton finished the game with four points for the Greyhounds while Guadagnolo stopped 38 shots on the night in the loss.

"They did a good job and stayed with it," said Hounds coach Craig Hartsburg. "For the first two periods, I don't think we were great, but I don't think we were bad. We were just a little loose. In the third period I think we were just more determined.

"Every game is like a playoff game and we have to enjoy that," Hartsburg continued. "This has got to be so exciting and I think in the third period they looked like they were having fun."

Prior to the game the Hounds honoured former Greyhound, and Sault native, Ron Francis, who has been inducted into the Sault Ste. Marie Hockey Hall of Fame. Francis, who had his traditional No. 10 retired by the team during the 1995-96 season, played 89 games with the Greyhounds and finished his OHL career with 44 goals and 117 points.

Thanks to the win, coupled with a 4-2 loss by the Erie Otters against the Plymouth Whalers, the Greyhounds moved five points ahead of the Otters in the race for the final Western Conference playoff spot. The Otters still hold a game in hand on the Hounds.

The Greyhounds have a pair of games left on their current homestand with the first being a 7:30 p.m. game on Saturday evening against the Oshawa Generals. The game marks the only appearance of the season by the Generals in Sault Ste. Marie.

The Generals feature 15-year-old phenom John Tavares. Tavares received special status to enter last spring's Ontario Hockey League draft and he was ultimately selected first overall by the Generals.

The homestand concludes on Wednesday night with a game against the Saginaw Spirit.

*** AROUND THE OHL:

AT SUDBURY: Anton Hedman's goal at 8:37 of the third period held up as the winner as the Sudbury Wolves defeated the Oshawa Generals 3-1. Mark Versteeg-Lytwyn and Kevin Baker also scored for the Wolves while Nick Foligno chipped in with two assists.

AT SARNIA: Rob Schremp had two goals and three assists to pace the London Knights to an 8-5 victory over the Sarnia Sting. David Bolland chipped in with two goals and two assists while Robbie Drummond added two goals for the Knights. Dylan Hunter added four assists in the win. Ryan McInerney had a goal and two assists while Matt McCready added two assists in the loss for the Sting.

AT PLYMOUTH: Evan Brophey and Gino Pisellini scored third period goals to give the Plymouth Whalers a 4-2 victory over the Erie Otters. Tom Sestito had two assists while goaltender Justin Peters stopped 35 shots in the win.

AT MISSISSAUGA: Howie Martin and Jason Cassidy had two goals each as the Brampton Battalion defeated the Mississauga IceDogs 8-1. Wojtek Wolski, Luch Aquino, and Taylor Raszka had a goal and an assist each for the Battalion, who scored six second period goals in the win.

AT KITCHENER: Evan McGrath's second period goal at 7:35 was the winner as the Kitchener Rangers defeated the Ottawa 67's 3-1. Kitchener goaltender Dan Turple stopped 34 shots while his counterpart, Danny Battochio of the 67's, stopped 33.

AT KINGSTON: Danny Taylor stopped all 32 shots he faced as the Kingston Frontenacs blanked the Peterborough Petes 4-0. Chris Stewart and Peder Skinner had a goal and an assist each for the Frontenacs.

AT GUELPH: John Hughes scored the lone shootout goal as the Belleville Bulls found their way to a 2-1 victory over the Guelph Storm. Bryan Cameron for the Bulls and Kelsey Wilson for Guelph provided the scoring in regulation.