The Soo Greyhounds put together a solid team effort on Sunday evening and sent over 2,900 people home happy in the process.
Looking to bounce back from a 3-2 loss at the hands of the Toronto St. Michael's Majors on Friday night, the Greyhounds got off to a quick start as a Jason Pitton goal just 25 seconds from the opening faceoff that propelled the Greyhounds to a 4-1 victory over the visiting Sarnia Sting in Ontario Hockey League action on Sunday evening at Memorial Gardens.
The Greyhounds, who entered the game with a 5-3-2 record since Oct. 22, received a solid overall effort from the line of Tyler Kennedy centring Pitton and overage winger Blair Jarrett en route to the win.
The three combined for seven points in the victory. Pitton, the game's first star picked up two goals and an assist while Kennedy and Jarrett chipped in with two assists each in the win.
Pitton's goal, which was his first of two on the night, beat Sting goaltender Mike Iafrate on the short side to give the locals a quick lead which they would proceed to build on.
At 9:42, with the Greyhounds on the man advantage, Pitton struck again banking a shot of Iafrate and into the net. The goal chased the Sting netminder from the game as veteran Ryan Munce came in for the rest of the night.
Just over five minutes after the goaltending change, the Hounds were back for more as Reg Thomas, a former member of the Sting, picked up his sixth goal of the season to give the Hounds a three goal cushion.
Defenceman Trevor Solomon, one of two Sault products on the Sting with the other being forward Kelsey Wilson, got the Sting to within two goals late in the period as he beat Hounds rookie goalie Kyle Gajewski at 18:30.
After an uneventful second period which saw no scoring and no penalties, the Greyhounds came out in the third period and restored their three goal lead as Blair Jarrett picked up his sixth goal of the season just 30 seconds into the period to seal the win for the Greyhounds.
Along with the effort of Kennedy, Pitton and Jarrett, the Hounds received a strong effort from Gajewski in goal. The game's third star, Gajewski stopped 33 Sarnia shots to earn his third OHL victory.
At the other end, Iafrate stopped five Hounds shots before being pulled, while Munce stopped 29 the rest of the way.
Hounds coach Craig Hartsburg was pleased with the overall effort of his club in the victory and said that the Pitton goal early was a key to giving the team a boost.
"Any time you come out (and score early) it gives your team a boost," Hartsburg said. I think we got a really good team effort. We were better defensively (than on Friday night). That's what we constantly address (is the defensive side of the game)."
Hartsburg was also pleased with the play of Pitton, and added that he, Kennedy and Jarrett worked well together as the line has now combined for 19 points in their last four games after their seven point performance on Sunday.
"(Pitton's) a very hard working player," Hartsburg said of the game's first star. "That entire line seems to be working really well (lately)."
In addition, Hartsburg also commented that he was pleased with how Gajewski performed between the pipes in the win, saying that it was good to see Gajewski put up a solid performance.
The win improves the Hounds record to 8-9-3 which puts them alone in second place in the West Division behind the Windsor Spitfires, who beat Plymouth 3-2 on Sunday. The Hounds sit four points back of the Spitfires with two games in hand.
The Hounds now head into a very important road trip that will see the team play their next five games on the road, with four being against teams within their own division.
The Hounds are scheduled to play Windsor on Thursday and Plymouth on Saturday before taking on London next Sunday evening.
After games in Saginaw on Nov. 24 and Sarnia on Nov. 26, the Hounds return home to face the defending OHL champion Guelph Storm on Nov. 28.
*** AROUND THE O:
A hat-trick from Wojtek Wolski led the Brampton Battalion to a 4-1 victory over the Mississauga IceDogs. Wolski also added an assist while J.F. Houle chipped in with three assists in the win.
Dayne Davis stopped 34 shots as the Kingston Frontenacs beat the Ottawa 67's 4-3. Radek Smolenak picked up a goal and an assist in the victory. Sault product Matt D'Agostini scored a goal and Ryan Callahan picked up two assists as the Guelph Storm tied Kitchener 2-2.
A goal by defenceman Marc Staal midway through the second period turned out to be the winner as the Sudbury Wolves handed the Toronto St. Michael's Majors a 4-1 defeat. Benoit Pouliot added a goal and an assist and Kyle Lamb chipped in with two helpers in the victory.
Robin Big Snake, picked up off waivers from the Western Hockey League's Portland Winter Hawks, scored three times, including twice in the third period, as the Owen Sound Attack beat Oshawa 6-3.
Sault native Patrick Jarrett added three assists while Bobby Ryan and Stefan Ruzicka each had a goal and two assists in the victory.
A Ryan Garlock goal at 12:38 of the third period turned out to be the winner as Windsor knocked off Plymouth 3-2. Garlock also had an assist in the victory.
(All photos courtesy of Jim Egan.)