The Soo Greyhounds are beginning to show that hard work really does pay off. After losing a number of close games early on despite the team's hard-working approach, results are starting to come for the Hounds, who won their second straight road game on Saturday night as they knocked off the Plymouth Whalers 4-1 in Ontario Hockey League action.
After a James Wisniewski power play goal late in the opening period for the Whalers, the Greyhounds scored 4 unanswered goals en route to the win.
Tyler Kennedy opened the Greyhound scoring with his second goal of the season 1:15 into the second period. The goal was only the beginning for Kennedy as he also picked up 3 assists in the game and was named the game's first star.
The Greyhounds took over in the third period as Jeff Carter and Jeff Larsh, both with their third goals of the season and rookie Jacob King, with his second goal of the season, capped off the Hounds scoring. The Carter and Larsh goals came 16 seconds apart early on in the period.
The game got out of hand late. In the final five minutes, with the game all but over and the Greyhounds leading 4-1, five fights broke out at various points during that span. Overall 12 fighting majors and seven 10-minute misconducts were handed out by referee Pat Smola.
Smola also handed out a 5-minute checking-from-behind major penalty along with a game misconduct midway through the third period after John Vigilante crosschecked Michael Krelove from behind.
After getting a rest on Friday night when the Hounds beat Sarnia, Kevin Druce was back between the pipes for the Hounds in this one and played well turning aside 31 Whaler shots for the victory. At the other end of the rink, Paul Drew stopped 31 Greyhound shots in defeat.
The win improves the Hounds record to 3-4-1 after 8 games while Plymouth's record drops to 5-3-1.
The Hounds now prepare for the final game of their road trip when they take on the Windsor Spitfires in Windsor on Monday afternoon.
The Greyhounds next action at home is Wednesday night when the Sudbury Wolves are in town to take on the Hounds. Game time is 7 p.m.
In other OHL action on Saturday night, Kingston got 2 goals from Ryan Stephenson as they beat Saginaw 4-1; David Edgeworth scored the winner as Belleville beat Peterborough 5-3; Sarnia got 3 goals from Daniel Carcillo as they knocked off Mississauga 6-3; Stefan Ruzicka scored the winner as Owen Sound beat London 3-2; and Barrie beat Ottawa 3-1 on the strength of B.J. Crombeen's 3-point performance.