Hounds drop an Erie season opener (Updated)

It hasn't happened very often, but on Friday night it did.

The Soo Greyhounds lost a home opener on Friday night for just the second time in 14 years as they dropped a 3-1 decision to the Erie Otters at Memorial Gardens.

The game featured some quality goaltending on both sides as Jakub Cech of the Hounds and Josh Disher of the Otters made some key stops over the course of the game to keep things close.

The game started with the Hounds getting a prime opportunity to open up the scoring as Brian Lee was nabbed for charging by referee Matt Parlette. Shortly after, Derek Merlini was sent to the box for holding at 2:26, giving the Greyhounds a two-man advantage for over one minute.

Despite a few chances, the Greyhounds came away from the advantage with nothing to show for it.

Later in the period, the Hounds were put two men short as Parlette sent Brad Good and Jeff Carter to the box within moment of each other to give Erie a 5-on-3 for just under a minute and a half.

In similar fashion, the Otters came away from the man advantage empty handed. Shortly after the Carter penalty expired Geoff Platt was sprung on a partial breakaway but was turned aside by Cech, one of his six saves in the period.

Early in the second period, the Otters had a chance to take the lead when Rob Hisey, a former Greyhound, picked up the puck in the slot but rang a wrist shot off the post.

Just minutes after, the Greyhounds picked up another power play opportunity as Merlini was assessed another penalty. With time running out on the Merlini penalty Jeff Larsh got the puck in front of the Erie goal and proceeded to beat Disher to give the Greyhounds the lead.

Thanks to two big stops by Disher on Jason Pitton and Hounds rookie Ryan McInerney, who picked up his first Ontario Hockey League point by assisting on the Larsh goal, the Otters stayed close to the Hounds keeping the score at 1-0.

Cech was not to be outdone making a nice glove save on Hisey late in the period. The Otters would crack the armour of Cech in the final minute of the period as Geoff Platt knocked home a loose puck with just 16 second left in the period to send the game into the third tied at 1-1.

In the third period, the Hounds pressured to take the lead but could not seem to beat Disher, who was named the game's second star behind Cech.

The game stayed tied until late in the period when Lee made up for his earlier penalty by beating Cech to put the Otters ahead 2-1 at 14:43. Michael Blunden capped off the Otters 3-1 victory with an empty net goal at 19:42.

Following the game, Hounds head coach Marty Abrams said he was pleased with his team's defensive play and the play of goaltender Jakub Cech, but he added that the offence needs to pick up steam in order to take some pressure off the defencemen and goaltender.

"I thought we did a good job," Abrams said, "keeping the puck to the outside. I thought we did a better job of creating offence, but (Disher) made some big saves at the right time."

When asked if he planned to go back with Cech on Sunday, he said that his hunch was to play the veteran over rookie Kyle Gajewski, but he added that he would "sleep on it" before making a final decision on the starter for Sunday's game.

The Hounds also played the game minus two veterans as Reg Thomas and Tyler Kennedy were sitting out the first games of suspensions they received for incidents that took place during the pre-season.

The loss was just the second time in 14 years that the Greyhounds dropped their home opener. The only other loss came when the Hounds dropped a 4-1 decision to the Owen Sound Attack in 2001 in their home opener.

With their home opener now in the books, the Greyhounds will look to regroup as they prepare to face the Ottawa 67's on Sunday in their only home afternoon contest of the season. Game time is 2 p.m. at Memorial Gardens.