Greyhounds let one slip away in Saginaw

The Soo Greyhounds had the Saginaw Spirit right where they wanted them but couldn't close the deal.

On Sunday afternoon, the Hounds were victims of a shootout loss as the Spirit overcame a 2-0 third period deficit to score a 3-2 victory.

Although the Hounds suffered a pair of losses on the three-game road trip, including a 4-3 overtime defeat in London on Friday, they do take home four of a possible six points after opening with a victory in Windsor on Thursday.

Cody Thornton's goal in the final minute of the first period and Dustin Jeffrey's marker, which was assisted by Thornton midway through the second, spotted the Hounds a 2-0 lead.

But in the third period, the Spirit struck back with a goal by Patrick McNeill 4:14 into the frame on the power play. Just over four minutes later, Tom Pyatt tied the game at 2-2.

After a scoreless five minute overtime session, Jack Combs and Jan Mursak beat Hounds goaltender Kyle Gajewski, who faced 44 shots in the game, in the shootout to claim the extra point.

With the point, the Spirit move four points up on the Greyhounds for fourth spot in the western conference. The Hounds also fall into a tie for fifth with the Guelph Storm. Both the Storm and Spirit hold a game in hand on the Soo.

Meanwhile, the seventh place Sarnia Sting, who also hold a game in hand on the Hounds, have pulled to within three points of the pack.

With eight games remaining in the regular season, the Hounds have a chance to close the gap on Saginaw in the second half of the home-and-home set on Wednesday night at the Steelback Centre. Game time is 7 p.m.

Following the game, the Hounds travel to Sudbury on Friday before returning home to host Guelph on Saturday night.

*** GAME SUMMARY:

Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds 2 at Saginaw Spirit 3 (SO) Dow Event Center

1st Period

1. Sault Ste. Marie, C. Thornton (33) (J. Tlusty) 19:17

Penalties - N. Williams Sag (interference) 8:26, M. Lyall Ssm (holding) 11:46, T. Cuthbert Ssm (roughing) 13:36, R. McDonough Sag (roughing) 13:36, D. Kuchejda Ssm (high sticking) 19:57

2nd Period

2. Sault Ste. Marie, D. Jeffrey (33) (S. Jones, C. Thornton) 8:12

Penalties - A. Desjardins Ssm (kneeing) 8:39

3rd Period

3. Saginaw, P. McNeill (20) (A. Hotham, T. Haskins) 4:14 PP 4. Saginaw, T. Pyatt (34) (R. O'Marra, P. McNeill) 8:22

Penalties - B. Good Ssm (boarding) 3:13, B. Halstead Ssm (slashing) 4:39, M. Quesnele Ssm (cross checking) 12:55

OT Period

No Scoring

Penalties - T. Cuthbert Ssm (10-minute misconduct) 4:20, D. Kuchejda Ssm (tripping) 4:20

Shootout

Round 1 - SAG - Jack Combs - Yes Round 1 - SSM - Cody Thornton - No Round 2 - SAG - Ryan O'Marra - No Round 2 - SSM - Jiri Tlusty - No Round 3 - SAG - Jan Mursak - Yes Round 3 - SSM - Dustin Jeffrey - Yes

SSM Shots: 5 10 3 3 0 TOTAL: 21 SAG Shots: 11 14 15 3 1 TOTAL: 44

Power Play Conversion Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds 0-1. Saginaw Spirit 1-7.

Goaltenders

Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds Gajewski 27-17-1-3 Min: 65:00 SV: 41 GA: 2 [SL] Saginaw Spirit Daniels 31-18-0-3 Min: 65:00 SV: 19 GA: 2 [W]

Start : 2:04 PM End : 4:36 PM Attendance : 4328

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