The phrase "We didn't play a full 60 minutes" is used often in hockey circles.
Sunday night, in front of an announced crowd of slightly under 2,500 at Memorial Gardens, the Soo Greyhounds found out first hand how not putting together a full 60-minute effort can hurt a hockey club, in dropping a 7-4 decision to the Kitchener Rangers.
The Hounds came out of the first period in pretty good shape trailing just 2-1 on two goals by the Rangers' Derek Roy, while Jeff Larsh replied for the Soo.
In the second period the Greyhounds showed some spirit outshooting the Rangers 14-7 and taking a 4-3 lead on two goals by Jeff Carter and one by Matt Herneisen. Mixed in was a goal by Ranger winger Adam Keefe.
The Rangers picked up their game for the third period and their effort was something that the Greyhounds couldn't seem to match as the Kitchener beat Hounds' goaltender Dwight LaBrosse four times en route to the 7-4 victory.
Greg Campbell, Michael Richards, Nathan O'Nabigon and Chad McCaffrey scored in the period to round out the scoring.
LaBrosse stopped just 22 shots in the loss, while Kitchener's overage goaltender Scott Dickie stopped 28 Greyhound shots in the win.