Greyhounds rebound to even series

The Soo Greyhounds rebounded from a game one meltdown to score a convincing victory over the Saginaw Spirit in game two.

Holding the same 3-1 margin heading to the third period as they did in game one, the Hounds continued to pour it on this time and skated away with a 5-1 victory on Saturday night in Saginaw.

The best-of-seven Ontario Hockey League western conference quarterfinal is now tied 1-1 with the series shifting to the Steelback Centre for games three and four on Tuesday and Wednesday nights at 7 p.m.

Special teams proved to be the difference in this one as the Hounds connected on four of seven power play opportunities while holding the mighty power play of the Spirit to no goals on 13 opportunities.

Jiri Tlusty scored a pair of goals, including one into an empty net, to lead the Greyhounds charge with singles going to Josh Godfrey, David Kuchejda and Cody Thornton.

Michael Quesnele, Dustin Jeffrey and Thornton each assisted twice while Godfrey set up another. Kyle Gajewski stopped 43 of 44 shots for the win.

Tlusty and Godfrey now have three goals each in the first two games.

Patrick McNeill replied with the lone tally for the Spirit while Ryan Daniels faced only 23 Greyhound shots in the Saginaw goal.

*** GAME SUMMARY:

Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds 5 at Saginaw Spirit 1 Dow Event Center

1st Period No Scoring

Penalties - M. Lyall Ssm (checking from behind) 9:25, B. Biggers Ssm (roughing) 11:49, M. Lyall Ssm (high sticking) 11:49, N. Williams Sag (roughing) 11:49, B. Good Ssm (holding) 14:19, N. Williams Sag (roughing) 19:24, C. Bass Sag (roughing) 20:00

2nd Period 1. Sault Ste. Marie, J. Tlusty (2) (J. Godfrey, M. Quesnele) 0:21 PP 2. Saginaw, P. McNeill (1) (R. O'Marra, T. Pyatt) 7:37 3. Sault Ste. Marie, D. Kuchejda (1) (A. Campbell, J. Muzzin) 14:22 PP 4. Sault Ste. Marie, C. Thornton (1) (D. Jeffrey, M. Quesnele) 19:43 PP

Penalties - D. Kuchejda Ssm (high sticking) 1:46, C. Thornton Ssm (hooking) 4:00, C. Chappell Sag (slashing) 6:19, C. Thornton Ssm (tripping) 7:15, B. Good Ssm (boarding) 8:11, B. MacLean Ssm (high sticking) 10:10, C. Bass Sag (charging) 13:02, J. Combs Sag (hooking) 17:50, A. Hotham Sag (roughing) 19:14, P. McNeill Sag (cross checking) 20:00

3rd Period 5. Sault Ste. Marie, J. Godfrey (3) (D. Jeffrey, C. Thornton) 0:21 PP 6. Sault Ste. Marie, J. Tlusty (3) (C. Thornton) 17:33 EN

Penalties - M. Lyall Ssm (hooking) 2:25, B. MacLean Ssm (unsportsmanlike cnd.) 5:04, T. Cuthbert Ssm (high sticking) 5:53, D. Kuchejda Ssm (tripping) 11:11, S. Jones Ssm (slashing) 19:27

SSM Shots: 11 5 7 TOTAL: 23 SAG Shots: 12 20 12 TOTAL: 44

Power Play Conversion Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds 4-7. Saginaw Spirit 0-13.

Goaltenders Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds Gajewski Min: 60:00 SV: 43 GA: 1 [W]

Saginaw Spirit Daniels 1-1-0-0 Min: 59:22 SV: 18 GA: 4 [L]

Start : 7:15 PM End : 9:40 PM Attendance : 3963

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