Greyhounds drop one goal decision to Spitfires (Video added)

Just 24 hours after coming from two-goals behind to win, the Soo Greyhounds nearly pulled the trick again.

This time, the team fell just short as they dropped a 3-2 decision to the Windsor Spitfires in Ontario Hockey League action on Saturday night at the Essar Centre.

The Greyhounds fell behind 2-0 in the opening period before tying the game up in the second period only to see Brady Vail scored the eventual game-winner just over six minutes into the third period.

“We might have come out a little flat from Friday night but we started to get our feet going in the middle of the first period,” said Greyhounds coach Mike Stapleton. “It was a pretty good game from there on.”

After the Spitfires opened up the first period lead on a pair of power play goals, David Broll pulled the locals to within one late in the period while Nick Cousins tied the game midway through the second period. Brady Vail then put the Spitfires ahead to stay just over six minutes into the third period

“We asked Brady to play against their top line all night and obviously on the road it’s tough to get a matchup against Cousins,” said Spitfires coach Bob Boughner. His whole line (with Ben Johnson and Chris Marchese) played really well. Brady was really skating tonight and he’s really improved the offensive part of his game.”

Michael Clarke and Jordan Maletta had the other goals for the Spitfires in the win. Goaltender Jaroslav Pavelka stopped 29 shots for Windsor.

“You always say your best penalty killer is your goalie and (Pavelka) made some big stops in the second period on the penalty kill,” said Boughner. “That was the turning point. Then at the end, he stopped (Michael) Schumacher three times in the slot and held his ground.”

For the Greyhounds, Matt Murray stopped 37 shots.

“We left him hanging out to dry there a few times and he was up to the challenge,” said Stapleton.

With the loss, the Greyhounds split their two-game season-opening homestand after Friday’s win over Plymouth but it was a weekend Stapleton was pleased with overall.

“I’m happy with the way we played this weekend,” said Stapleton. “We found a way to win (on Friday), but we let one slip away (Saturday). There’s still stuff we have to work on, especially in our own end. We’ve got enough talent to play at the other end but we’ve just got to be committed to our own end.”

Next up for the Greyhounds is a two-game road trip that takes the locals to Sarnia on Sept. 28 and Saginaw on Sept. 29.

Game Highlights (Courtesy Soo Greyhounds)

Also added are video highlights from action on Friday night against Plymouth

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OTHER SCORES

In Plymouth, Joseph Cramarossa scored the lone shootout goal to lead the Belleville Bulls to a 3-2 win over the Plymouth Whalers. Austen Brassard and Carter Sandlak scored for the Bulls in regulation time while Jordan Subban assisted on both goals. Goaltender Malcolm Subban stopped 33 shots in the win along with all three Plymouth shooters in the shootout. Stefan Noesen and Ryan Hartman scored for Plymouth.

In Ottawa, goaltender Michael Qiugovaz stopped 39 shots as the Peterborough Petes beat the Ottawa 67’s 4-3. Clark Seymour, Zach Lorentz, Nick Ritchie and Francis Menard scored for Peterborough in the win while Ryan Van Stralen, Taylor Fielding and Cody Ceci scored for Ottawa.

In Owen Sound, Cameron Brace had a goal and two assists as the Owen Sound Attack beat the Saginaw Spirit 5-2. Daniel Catenacci and Kurtis Gabriel added a goal and an assist each in the win while Holden Cook and Kyle Hope also scored. Garret Ross and Vincent Trocheck scored for Saginaw in the loss.

Photo courtesy James Egan Photography

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