On a day in which they had an opportunity to inch closer to a potential playoff spot in the Ontario Hockey League’s Western Conference, the Soo Greyhounds couldn't capitalize.
Sitting three points behind the Erie Otters for the final playoff spot in the conference heading into action on Sunday, the Greyhounds got some help but couldn’t pull closer in the standings, dropping a 4-3 decision to the Sarnia Sting at Progressive Auto Sales Arena in Sarnia.
“This one sucks,” said Greyhounds forward Joe Carroll.
“It was definitely a must-win,” added forward Zack Trott. “It’s pretty devastating.”
Trailing by a pair of goals, Sarnia scored four straight goals, including three in the second period, to take a 4-2 lead at the time and hold on for the win.
“Three really big mistakes for three goals against,” Greyhounds coach John Dean said of the stretch in the second period. “We’ve been having trouble getting pucks into their net over the last 10 or 11 games so we can’t afford to make those mistakes, especially ion a critical game like that.”
“There was three minutes there that we’d like back,” Carroll said. “We took our foot off the gas for those three minutes.”
“Everybody wants to win so bad, when they get two quick ones, I think a lot of guys got nervous there for a bit,” Carroll also said. “We just held our sticks too tight there for a bit.”
Sam Bitten scored the eventual game-winner early in the third period for the Sting.
The veteran forward went to the net and deflected a point shot by Kelton Hatcher past Sault goaltender Bailey Brkin to put the Sting up 4-2 1:28 into the period.
“I was just trying to get in front of the net,” Bitten told YourTV of the goal. “That’s my role is playing an in-your-face style and getting in front of the net. I practice tipping pucks at every practice. I’m happy it paid off.”
Carroll, who finished the game with a pair of goals, cut the Sting lead to 4-3 just over a minute after Bitten’s goal but the Greyhounds couldn’t find the equalizer.
Zack Trott had the other goal for the Greyhounds, opening the scoring in the contest just under four minutes into the opening period.
Brkin made 17 saves for the Greyhounds.
Jacob Perreault, Ryan McGregor, and Theo Hill had the other Sarnia goals.
Rookie goaltender Ben Gaudreau made 33 saves for the Sting.
With the loss, the Greyhounds remain three points behind Erie for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference with a record of 26-31-3-1.
The Otters have a game in hand on the Greyhounds, which they will play on Wednesday night at home against Guelph.
With seven games to go in the regular season schedule, Dean spoke of every game being the biggest game of the season going forward.
“The nice part is that we’re still in this more than just mathematically, but we need to go on a run here,” Dean said.
The Greyhounds return to action on Friday night on the road against Sudbury before returning home the next night against Kingston.
Sunday’s game was Sarnia’s first win on home ice since Dec. 14, a stretch of 12 games without a win.
“It’s been pretty incredible,” Bitten said of getting the win. “For us as players, but especially for the fans. We saw the excitement when we won. It was loud, everyone was into it. It’s a big relief.”
Sarnia improves to 21-33-5-1 with Sunday’s win.
In other action around the OHL on Sunday, in Erie, Liam Foudy had a goal and two assists as the London beat Erie 6-3. Chad Yetman had two goals and an assist for Erie while Maxim Golod also had three points with a goal and two assists.
In St. Catharines, trailing 2-1 early in the second period, the North Bay Battalion scored four unanswered goals to beat the Niagara IceDogs 5-2. Brandon Coe scored three times for North Bay.
In Peterborough, Nick Robertson scored three times as the Peterborough Petes beat the Barrie Colts 6-1.
In Sudbury, James Hardie had the shootout winner as the Mississauga Steelheads beat the Sudbury Wolves 4-3. Cole Schwindt had a goal and two assists for the Steelheads while Keean Washkurak had a pair of goals.
In Windsor, eight unanswered goals turned a 2-2 tie into a 10-2 win for the Windsor Spitfires over the Kingston Frontenacs. Jean-Luc Foudy had two goals and two assists for Windsor. Will Cuylle chipped in with two goals and an assist. Wyatt Johnston and Tyler Angle had a goal and two assist each for Windsor.
Sunday’s other game, which saw the Oshawa General hosting the Ottawa 67’s, was not complete at the time of writing.