Greyhounds struggle in trip opener

Mistakes proved to be too costly.

A goal by Adam Ruzicka, his second of the night, at 14:04 of the third period was the difference as the Sarnia Sting beat the Soo Greyhounds 5-3 on Friday night at Progressive Auto Sales Arena in Ontario Hockey League action.

It was the first regulation time loss for the Greyhounds since Oct. 27, also a loss to the Sting in Sarnia.

For the Greyhounds, the game was one that the team struggled defensively, and the Sting capitalized.

“A lot of uncharacteristic plays cost us,” said Greyhounds Coach Drew Bannister.

“Our whole back end struggled in the game and as a group it was probably the worst game I’ve seen them play this year,” Bannister also said.

Overage forward Hayden Verbeek added that the Sting “out-battled” the Greyhounds at times.

“I know our guys have a lot more than what we gave tonight,” Verbeek said. “I don’t think it was our best performance and everybody knows that we’ve got more to give.”

Goals 26 seconds apart late in the opening period put the Greyhounds behind and the team was forced to battle back from a 3-1 deficit through 40 minutes.

Keeghan Howdeshell and Verbeek scored 3:01 apart in the third period to tie the game at three before Ruzicka scored the eventual game-winner.

Howdeshell, Verbeek and Tim Gettinger each finished the night with a goal and an assist for the Greyhounds.

Goaltender Matthew Villalta made 23 saves.

Ruzicka finished the night with a pair of goals. Jordan Kyrou had a goal and two assists for the Sting. Jamieson Rees and Nick Grima also scored for Sarnia.

Goaltender Justin Fazio made 27 saves.

The Greyhounds record falls to 37-4-2-1.

Sarnia, in second in the OHL’s West Division behind the Greyhounds, improves to 31-12-2-0.

The Greyhounds return to action on Saturday night in Flint against the Firebirds.

Notes: Greyhounds forward Taylor Raddysh was named the OHL’s player of the week for the week ending on Jan. 14 after he scored four goals and nine points in his first three games with the team

The strong week also earned the veteran forward the Canadian Hockey League player of the week honour as well.

Conor Timmins remains out of the Greyhounds lineup due to injury.

Goaltender Tyler Johnson is also not with the team on the trip. He’s out of the lineup due to injury as well. Dougie Newhouse will serve as the Greyhounds backup goaltender.

Bannister said Friday night he didn’t know the extent of Johnson’s injury.

In other games around the OHL on Friday night, in Kingston, Brandon Saigeon scored at 3:41 of overtime as the Hamilton Bulldogs beat the Kingston Frontenacs 3-2. Hamilton goaltender Kaden Fulcher made 34 saves. Kingston netminder Jeremy Helvig stopped 37 shots.

In Mississauga, Ryan McLeod had two goals and an assist as the Mississauga Steelheads beat the Barrie Colts 5-2. Albert Michnac, Trent Fox and Michael McLeod chipped in with a goal and an assist each. Andrei Svechnikov scored both goals for Barrie.

In Sudbury, Cole Coskey scored a pair of goals as the Saginaw Spirit beat the Sudbury Wolves 4-2. Mason Kohn chipped in with a goal and two assists.

In Guelph, Nate Schnarr had a goal and an assist as the Guelph Storm beat the Windsor Spitfires 3-1. Anthony Popovich made 28 saves for the Storm.

In Kitchener, Austin McEneny scored a pair of goals as the Kitchener Rangers blanked the Erie Otters 3-0. Goaltender Mario Culina made 36 saves for the shutout.

In London, Alex Formenton scored at 4:01 of overtime to give the London Knights a 3-2 win over the Niagara IceDogs. Knights goaltender Joseph Raaymakers made 31 saves.