Dustin Jeffrey scores division title winner

The Soo Greyhounds did it the way they wanted -- without any help.

Fully in control of their own destiny, the Greyhounds finished the regular season with a dramatic win to earn another banner for the Steelback Centre rafters.

Dustin Jeffrey scored on a scramble 2:48 into overtime as the Hounds nipped the Saginaw Spirit 3-2 to claim the Ontario Hockey League's west division championship on Saturday night at the Steelback Centre in front of 4,704.

The division title ensures the Greyhounds of home ice advantage for at least the first two rounds of the playoffs.

The Hounds will begin a best-of-seven western conference quarterfinal series on Friday at 7:30 p.m. at the Steelback Centre against either the Plymouth Whalers or Saginaw.

Guelph secured fifth place in the western conference and will meet the London Knights in the first round while Sarnia, who beat Plymouth 5-4 on Saturday, captured sixth spot and will meet the Windsor Spitfires in the playoffs. First place Kitchener will also face either Plymouth or Saginaw.

On Sunday, the final day of the regular season, Plymouth visits Saginaw at 4 p.m. while Windsor hosts Kitchener in what is now a meaningless game for both teams in the standings.

The winner in Saginaw will claim seventh place and earn a trip to the Soo while loser finishes eighth and meets Kitchener.

On Saturday, Joe Pleckaitis scored to give Saginaw a 1-0 lead after one period. Spirit goaltender Ryan Daniels stood on his head as the Hounds peppered the Saginaw net early in the game.

In the second period, Greyhound goals by Matt Lyall on the power play and Wayne Simmonds sandwiched a Spirit goal from Ryan McDonough to even the score at 2-2.

A scoreless third period led to Jeffrey's overtime heroics.

The Greyhounds celebrated the win on the ice briefly before heading off the ice in businesslike fashion.

Daniels faced 44 Greyhound shots while Hounds goaltender Kyle Gajewski saw 30 shots.

Simmonds also recorded a pair of assists for a three point game while Jeffrey assisted on another. Michael Quesnele set up a pair.

The Greyhounds finish the 68-game regular season with 44 wins, 18 losses, two overtime losses and four shootout losses for 94 points.

(EDITOR'S NOTE: Video highlights are not available for tonight's game. SooToday.com's video package will return for the playoffs.)

*** GAME SUMMARY:

Saginaw Spirit 2 at Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds 3 (OT) Steelback Centre

1st Period 1. Saginaw, J. Pleckaitis (7) 10:40

Penalties - B. MacLean Ssm (interference) 2:31, R. Daniels Sag (delay of game) 3:33, B. Smith Sag (hooking) 12:27, T. Cuthbert Ssm (holding) 17:41

2nd Period 2. Sault Ste. Marie, M. Lyall (21) (W. Simmonds, M. Quesnele) 2:16 PP 3. Saginaw, R. McDonough (44) (C. Chappell) 10:03 4. Sault Ste. Marie, W. Simmonds (33) (D. Jeffrey) 12:49

Penalties - N. Crawford Sag (holding) 0:29, T. Cuthbert Ssm (slashing) 12:08, T. Brodie Sag (tripping) 12:26, A. Comrie Sag (holding) 14:49

3rd Period No Scoring

Penalties - J. Livingston Ssm (roughing) 3:54

OT Period 5. Sault Ste. Marie, D. Jeffrey (38) (W. Simmonds, M. Quesnele) 2:48

Penalties - No Penalties

SAG Shots: 8-9-11-2 TOTAL: 30 SSM Shots: 14-12-15-3 TOTAL: 44

Power Play Conversion Saginaw Spirit 0-4. Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds 1-5.

Goaltenders Saginaw Spirit Daniels 19-15-8-2 Min: 62:48 SV: 41 GA: 3 [L] Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds Gajewski 39-16-1-3 Min: 62:48 SV: 28 GA: 2 [W]

Start : 7:33 PM End : 9:40 PM Attendance : 4704

Referee I: Scott Oakman (23) Referee II: Sean Reid (26) LINESMAN I: Paul Raycroft (55) LINESMAN II: Troy Miller (74)

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