Hounds returning home for game six

How about those Soo Greyhounds.

Despite standing on their last leg after falling behind 3-0 to the London Knights, the Greyhounds continue to fight back in the Ontario Hockey League western conference semi-final.

On Friday night in London, the Greyhounds broke a 2-2 tie with three third period goals to upset the Knights 5-2.

London's lead in the best-of-seven series is now trimmed to 3-2 with game six scheduled for the Steelback Centre on Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m.

Should the Hounds force a game seven, it will be a quick turn around as the puck drops on Monday night in London.

In game five, the Hounds rode the goaltending of Kyle Gajewski, who picked up first star honours for the second straight contest.

Offensively, Jiri Tlusty potted two goals for the Greyhounds while three others chipped in with their first goal of the playoffs.

After a scoreless opening period, London opened the scoring 5:04 into the second on a Todd Perry goal.

Less than two minutes later, Jacob Muzzin fed Jiri Tlusty with a breakaway pass and Tlusy beat Knights goaltender Steve Mason to tie the score at 1-1.

Then, Andrew Desjardins was finally rewarded with a playoff goal, poking the puck past Mason on the power play to put the visitors ahead 2-1.

Patrick Kane's eighth goal of the playoffs just 41 seconds later send the game to the third period tied at 2-2.

In the final frame, the Hounds exposed a shaky Mason. Despite being outshot 17-7 in the period, the Greyhounds potted three goals.

Jacob Lalonde tipped home his first goal on a Brad Good shot for the game winner just 2:36 in. With less than five minutes to play, Matt Lyall' first goal provided some insurance before Tlusty capped the scoring with an empty net marker with 10 seconds to play.

In all, Gajewski stopped 41 of 43 shots while Mason faced 27 Greyhound shots.

Craig Hartsburg returned behind the Greyhounds bench after serving a two-game suspension for throwing a puck into the stands following game two in London.

*** GAME SUMMARY:

Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds 5 at London Knights 2 Apr 13, 2007 - John Labatt Centre

1st Period No Scoring

Penalties - J. Lalonde Ssm (tripping) 1:47, A. Desjardins Ssm (tripping) 5:47, S. Kostitsyn Ldn (high sticking) 12:27, J. Foreman Ldn (delay of game) 17:08, B. Biggers Ssm (slashing) 19:12, T. Cuthbert Ssm (roughing) 19:18, D. Meckler Ldn (roughing) 19:18

2nd Period 1. London, T. Perry (1) (J. Taylor, J. Beaulieu) 5:04 2. Sault Ste. Marie, J. Tlusty (7) (J. Muzzin) 6:51 3. Sault Ste. Marie, A. Desjardins (1) (C. MacKinnon) 10:48 PP 4. London, P. Kane (8) (S. Gagner) 11:23

Penalties - J. Tlusty Ssm (hooking) 3:47, S. Kostitsyn Ldn (hooking) 4:24, C. Crawford Ldn (checking from behind) 9:40, S. Gagner Ldn (holding) 17:30

3rd Period 5. Sault Ste. Marie, J. Lalonde (1) (B. Good) 2:36 6. Sault Ste. Marie, M. Lyall (1) (D. Kuchejda, B. MacLean) 15:17 7. Sault Ste. Marie, J. Tlusty (8) 19:50 EN

Penalties - B. Good Ssm (interference) 6:31

SSM Shots: 5 15 7 TOTAL: 27 LDN Shots: 13 13 17 TOTAL: 43

Power Play Conversion Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds 1-5. London Knights 0-5.

Goaltenders Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds Gajewski 6-4-1-0 Min: 60:00 SV: 41 GA: 2 [W] London Knights Mason 7-2-0-0 Min: 17:54 SV: 22 GA: 4 [L]

Start : 7:33 PM End : 9:45 PM Attendance : 9090

Referee I: Mark Hicks (19) Referee II: Scott Hutchinson (4) LINESMAN I: Kevin Hastings (61) LINESMAN II: Matthew Traub (50)

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