The Soo Greyhounds outlasted the Oshawa Generals to begin a three-game road trip on Thursday night.
After twice taking a lead and seeing the Generals rebound to tie, the Greyhounds used a third period goal by Jeff Larsh to seal a 4-3 Ontario Hockey League win in Oshawa.
With the victory, the Greyhounds improve to 11-6-1-1 for 24 points to pull four points ahead of Plymouth for the West Division lead and one point ahead of London and Owen Sound for the Western Conference lead.
London has three games in hand on the OHL point leading Greyhounds while Plymouth has two and Owen Sound one.
Jeff Carter short handed and Scott Dobben each scored their 11th goal of the season to put the Greyhounds ahead 2-0 in the first period.
The Generals rallied to tie the game at 2-2 in the second period as Tobias Whelan and Paul Ranger scored on the power play. Hounds defenseman Matt Manias scored his first goal of the season to pull the Hounds ahead 3-2 after two periods.
Aaron Lobb tied the game for Oshawa just 25 seconds into the third period before Larsh scored the game winner 4:41 into the frame.
Carter added two assists while Dobben and Manias each added one. Kevin Druce stopped 29 of 32 shots in net for the Hounds.
The Greyhounds played the game minus 19 year-old forward Michael Krelove, who returned home to Thunder Bay on Wednesday citing a lack of desire to play hockey.
The team's road trip continues tomorrow against Kingston at 7:30 p.m. The Hounds conclude the trip on Sunday in Mississauga at 2 p.m. before returning home to play Sarnia on Wednesday at Memorial Gardens beginning at 7 p.m.
In other OHL games on Thursday, Anthony Stewart scored three goals as the Kingston Frontenacs defeated the Peterborough Petes 4-2. Shane Hart and Steve Zmudczynski scored twice each to lead Guelph past Ottawa 7-1.
Darryl Boyce scored once and added two assists to lead Toronto St. Michael's past Owen Sound 4-3 while B.J. Crombeen's two goals paced the Barrie Colts past the Windsor Spitfires 7-3.
*** * DRUCE HONOURED: Kevin Druce was selected as the OHL's Goaltender of the Month for October after a dazzling display between the pipes. In 10 appearances, Druce posted a 7-3 record with a 2.18 goals against average and an incredible .960 save percentage while being selected as a game star four times.
Druce and Jeff Carter will participate for Team OHL at the RE/MAX Canada-Russia Challenge on November 17 in London and November 19 in Sarnia.
Druce joins Player of the Month Corey Perry, who scored 10 goals and 24 points in 13 games, from the London Knights, the Barrie Colts' Bryan Little as Rookie of the Month and Defenseman of the Month James Wisniewski of the Plymouth Whalers.
Druce's selection comes three days after Scott Dobben was selected as the OHL's player of week ending November 2.
* JARRETT IN: Sault native Patrick Jarrett has been added to Team OHL for the Canada-Russia Challenge. Jarrett, who toils for the Owen Sound Attack, has four goals and 21 points in 18 games this season. Jarrett replaces injured teammate Brad Richardson.