It was a playoff preview on Friday night at Memorial Gardens and the Soo Greyhounds came away with a bit of an edge over their first round opponents, the Windsor Spitfires.
The Greyhounds overcame some costly turnovers to hold on for a 6-5 victory over the Spitfires in from of over 3,900 people jammed into Memorial Gardens.
The Hounds received a strong offensive performance from the line of Tyler Kennedy between Jason Pitton and Blair Jarrett as the trio combined for nine points in the victory.
The Hounds fell behind early as a penalty to Jarrett just 32 seconds into the game led to Iain McPhee putting the Spitfires on the board 59 seconds into the contest.
The Hounds managed to respond later in the period as they scored three times in just over six minutes to take a 3-1 lead after one period. Kennedy, Reg Thomas and Pitton supplied the scoring.
After Jarrett scored his first of two goals on the night 5:05 into the second period, the Spitfires came to life.
Jared Cipparone scored his third goal of the season at 9:02 to cut the lead to 4-2. Just 32 seconds later, Jason Dixon scored to cut the Hounds lead down to one and another Dixon goal at 12:50 got the Spitfires back on even terms.
Just 34 seconds after Dixon's second goal though, Jarrett put the Greyhounds ahead for good.
Jacob King gave the Hounds a 6-4 lead to work with when he potted his seventh goal of the season at 13:38 and it turned out the goal was a much-needed one.
With just 1:11 remaining, and the Greyhounds killing a penalty and facing a 6-on-4 disadvantage with the Spitfires net empty, David Lomas beat Hounds goaltender Kyle Gajewski to pull the Spitfires to within a goal.
Despite another attempt to tie the game the Spitfires could not pull even again as the Hounds held on for the 6-5 victory.
Hounds coach Craig Hartsburg said that his team played well defensively, when they didn't have the puck. Some costly turnovers when they did have the puck were the real problem against the Spitfires.
"You're playing a real good offensive team (in Windsor)," Hartsburg said. "Our defencemen turned three pucks over (that turned into goals against). Defensively we were fine when we didn't have the puck. Our defence tried to be too fancy (with the puck) and they paid for it. (Gajewski) didn't have much help. (There were) a lot of turnovers and you can't blame a goalie for that."
Hartsburg was pleased with his club's offensive play as well.
"Our forwards did a lot of good things tonight," Hartsburg said. "Kennedy's line did a real good job."
The Hounds also played the game without the services of Captain Jeff Carter, who sat out the game as a precautionary measure after suffering a hip flexor on Thursday in practice. The injury is listed as day-to-day, but he is expected to practice early next week.
The Hounds have one more regular season game left, a Sunday evening home date with the London Knights in a game that means very little to either club. Game time is 7 p.m.
The real fun starts on Mar. 25 and 26 when the Spitfires are back in town for Games 1 and 2 of the OHL Western Conference Playoffs.
If Friday night's game is any indication, this series could be one of the more interesting first round matchups in the OHL.
*** HOUNDS VS. SPITS:
Game 1 - Fri. March 25 at Sault Ste. Marie, 7:30 Game 2 - Sat. March 26 at Sault Ste. Marie, 7:30 Game 3 - Wed. March 30 at Windsor, 7:30 Game 4 - Thurs. March 31 at Windsor, 7:30 Game 5 - Sat. April 2 at Sault Ste. Marie, 7:30 * Game 6 - Sun. April 3 at Windsor, 6:00 * Game 7 - Tues. April 5 at Sault Ste. Marie, 7:00 *
(* = if necessary) *** AROUND THE O:
* In Guelph, second period goals by Mike McLean and Corey Konecny led the Guelph Storm to a 2-0 victory over a short-staffed Saginaw Spirit squad. Ryan MacDonald stopped all 16 shots he faced for the shutout.
* The Kingston Frontenacs received goals from three different players en route to a 3-0 win over the Oshawa Generals. Radek Smolenak, Tony Rizzi, and Bobby Hughes completed the scoring while Brady Morrison stopped all 19 shots directed his way. Ben Thomas stopped 35 shots in the Oshawa goal.
* Justin Azevedo and Evan McGrath each had a goal and an assist while Kevin Henderson chipped in with a pair of assists as Kitchener defeated Erie 4-1. Andrew Shennan scored the lone Erie goal.
* Danny Fritsche scored on a penalty shot at 10:05 of the third period and Robbie Schremp scored on the power play just over three minutes later to cap off a 3-2 come-from-behind victory by the London Knights over the Owen Sound Attack. Danny Syvret added a pair of assists in the win for London.
* Luch Aquino scored on the power play at 6:13 of the first period and the goal stood up as the winner in a 1-0 victory by the Brampton Battalion over the Mississauga IceDogs. Darren Machesney stopped 47 shots to record the shutout while IceDogs goaltender Michael Ouzas stopped 23 shots in the loss.
* Peterborough Petes goaltender Eero Kilpelainen stopped 47 shots while Danny Battochio stopped 39 in the Ottawa 67's goal as the two team's battle to a 3-3 tie. Liam Reddox had a pair of goals for Peterborough while Mark Mancari had three assists and Brad Bonello had a goal and an assist for Ottawa.
* Chad Painchaud had two goals and an assist to lead the Sarnia Sting to a 4-1 victory over the Plymouth Whalers. Richard Clune and Chris Chimienti scored the other Sarnia goals.
* Rafal Martynowski and Marc Staal each had a goal and an assist to lead the Sudbury Wolves to a 3-1 win over the Belleville Bulls.