Greyhounds sweep season series with Sarnia

The Soo Greyhounds had the Sarnia Sting's number all season.

In the eight head-to-head meetings between the two teams in the Ontario Hockey League regular season, the Greyhounds outscored the Sting 44-13.

In their final road game of the regular season on Sunday night, the Greyhounds held off the Sting for a 4-3 win to maintain their position as the west division leaders.

The Greyhounds sit four points ahead of the Windsor Spitfires in the standings but the Spits have a pair of games in hand.

Windsor will make up their games in hand this week as they host Plymouth and London on Tuesday and Thursday nights, respectively.

The Hounds will cap the regular season with a pair of games at the Steelback Centre. Plymouth visits Friday while Saginaw makes the trip on Saturday. Game times are 7:30 p.m.

With the victory in Sarnia, the Greyhounds finish the season with an impressive 19-12-2-1 record on the road for 41 points in 34 games.

After a scoreless first period, Justin DiBenedetto gave the Sting a lead 49 seconds into the second frame but the Greyhounds answered back just 25 seconds later as James Livingston converted a perfect feed from Dustin Jeffrey to tie the score at 1-1.

Jordan Hill put Sarnia ahead 2-1 after two periods but the Greyhounds proved to be too much for the Sting to handle in the third.

Matt Lyall knocked in his first of the night 1:47 into the third to tie the game at 2-2 before Matt Caria scored his 22nd of the year and Lyall notched his second of the night and 20th of the season for a 4-2 lead with 4:53 remaining.

Steven Stamkos the batted in his 55th goal of the season for Sarnia with 4:30 left but the Hounds were able close off the Sting defensively the rest of the way.

Kyle Gajewski stopped 37 of 40 shots for the win in goal for the Hounds while Andrew Perugini handled 34 of 38 shots for Sarnia.

Brandon MacLean finished with two assists for the Hounds while Livingston set up another for a multi-point outing. Stamkos and DiBenedetto added assists for the Sting.

*** GAME SUMMARY:

Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds 4 at Sarnia Sting 3 Sarnia Sports and Entertainment Centre

1st Period No Scoring

Penalties - T. Cuthbert Ssm (high sticking) 3:59, S. Ferry Sar (hooking) 14:24, B. MacLean Ssm (high sticking) 18:09

2nd Period 1. Sarnia, J. DiBenedetto (35) (D. DiDiomete, S. Stamkos) 0:49 2. Sault Ste. Marie, J. Livingston (21) (D. Jeffrey, B. Biggers) 1:14 3. Sarnia, J. Hill (2) 8:40

Penalties - D. DiDiomete Sar (roughing) 8:40, A. Campbell Ssm (boarding) 12:47, B. Biggers Ssm (diving, 10-minute misconduct) 18:05, S. Ferry Sar (interference) 18:05

3rd Period 4. Sault Ste. Marie, M. Lyall (19) (J. Livingston, B. MacLean) 1:47 5. Sault Ste. Marie, M. Caria (22) (A. Peluso, J. Lalonde) 11:00 6. Sault Ste. Marie, M. Lyall (20) (B. MacLean) 15:07 7. Sarnia, S. Stamkos (55) (J. DiBenedetto, S. Ferry) 15:30

Penalties - C. Odam Ssm (high sticking) 1:47, M. Quesnele Ssm (diving, 10-minute misconduct) 6:29, S. Stamkos Sar (tripping) 6:29, W. Simmonds Ssm (unsportsmanlike cnd.) 14:26, D. DiDiomete Sar (unsportsmanlike cnd.) 14:26

SSM Shots: 9-13-16 TOTAL: 38 SAR Shots: 9-17-14 TOTAL: 40

Power Play Conversion Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds 0-2. Sarnia Sting 0-4.

Goaltenders Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds Gajewski 37-16-1-3 Min: 60:00 SV: 37 GA: 3 [W] Sarnia Sting Perugini 26-19-1-1 Min: 60:00 SV: 34 GA: 4 [L]

Start : 6:09 PM End : 8:16 PM Attendance : 3719

Referee I: Mark Hicks (19) Referee II: Mike Pearce (25) LINESMAN I: Glenn Anderson (97) LINESMAN II: Chris Libett (76)

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