Greyhounds hammer Sting

After a rough start to a three-game road trip, the Soo Greyhounds salvaged a win to make the ride back home a bit easier.

On Sunday night in Sarnia, the Greyhounds turned up the offense and pounded the Sting 7-2.

The Hounds took two of a possible six points on the trip after loses in Windsor Thursday and London on Friday.

In Sarnia, Jared Gomes scored shorthanded to give the Sting a 1-0 lead early in the first period.

But a goal by Aaron Alphonso with six seconds left in the opening period and Michael Fine's fifth of the year 17 seconds into the second frame got the Hounds off and running.

Brandon Biggers and Josh Godfrey would then score before the period was out to give the Hounds a 4-1 lead.

In the third, Steven Stamkos scored his 30th goal of the season on the power play for Sarnia but the Hounds closed the game with three unanswered goals from Matt Lyall, Wayne Simmonds on the power play and Godfrey, his second of the night, also on the power play.

Godfrey also set up a pair of goals for a four-point night and first star honours while Fine and Alphonso also assisted for multi-point games.

The Greyhounds outshot the Sting 42-29 with Kyle Gajewski picking up the win in goal and Tomi Karhunen taking the loss.

The game also turned out to be a rough affair with six fighting majors being handed out along with three instigating minors and two ten-minute misconducts. Sarnia's Devin DiDiomete and Dalton Prout were also slapped with match penalties.

The Greyhounds now sit a point behind the Windsor Spitfires for first place in the west division and five points behind the Kitchener Rangers for the western conference lead after Windsor defeated Barrie 5-1 and Kitchener edged London 4-3 in overtime on Sunday.

After a week of practise, the Greyhounds head back on the road for a three-game swing that will take them into the holiday break.

On Friday, the Hounds visit the Rangers before matinee contests in Mississauga on Saturday and Guelph on Sunday.

*** GAME SUMMARY:

Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds 7 at Sarnia Sting 2 Sarnia Sports and Entertainment Centre

1st Period 1. Sarnia, J. Gomes (10) 6:52 SH 2. Sault Ste. Marie, A. Alphonso (16) (T. Cuthbert) 19:54

Penalties - J. Livingston Ssm (interference) 0:17, M. Martin Sar (checking from behind) 6:25, J. Godfrey Ssm (roughing) 8:42, M. Katic Sar (tripping) 11:18

2nd Period 3. Sault Ste. Marie, M. Fine (5) 0:17 4. Sault Ste. Marie, B. Biggers (8) (A. Peluso, J. Lalonde) 12:42 5. Sault Ste. Marie, J. Godfrey (10) (M. Fine) 16:06

Penalties - J. Hill Sar (delay of game) 6:30, J. Livingston Ssm (instigator, fighting, 10-minute misconduct) 9:54, S. Whitely Sar (fighting) 9:54, M. Martin Sar (roughing) 17:35

3rd Period 6. Sarnia, S. Stamkos (30) (D. DiDiomete, D. Prout) 2:25 PP 7. Sault Ste. Marie, M. Lyall (11) (B. MacLean, J. Godfrey) 10:19 8. Sault Ste. Marie, W. Simmonds (19) (J. Godfrey, M. Quesnele) 14:38 PP 9. Sault Ste. Marie, J. Godfrey (11) (A. Alphonso) 16:34 PP

Penalties - J. Godfrey Ssm (interference) 1:10, J. Muzzin Ssm (high sticking, fighting) 5:42, J. Gomes Sar (instigator, fighting) 5:42, T. Cuthbert Ssm (fighting) 6:42, D. DiDiomete Sar (slashing, match penalty) 6:42, B. Biggers Ssm (roughing) 9:35, J. DiBenedetto Sar (roughing) 9:35, D. Lombardi Sar (instigator, fighting, 10-minute misconduct) 13:33, M. Indra Sar (holding) 13:52, D. Prout Sar (checking to the head, match penalty) 19:19

SSM Shots: 15-13-14 TOTAL: 42 SAR Shots: 12-9-8 TOTAL: 29

Power Play Conversion Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds 2-9. Sarnia Sting 1-4.

Goaltenders Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds Gajewski 20-7-0-1 Min: 60:00 SV: 27 GA: 2 [W] Sarnia Sting Karhunen 15-12-0-0 Min: 60:00 SV: 35 GA: 7 [L]

Start : 6:08 PM End : 8:33 PM Attendance : 3525

Referee I: Sean Reid (26) Referee II: LINESMAN I: Joe Celestin (98) LINESMAN II: Scott Roode (77)

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