Hounds down two games to the Knights

The Soo Greyhounds are returning home down two games to the London Knights.

On Friday night in London, the Knights outplayed the Greyhounds for a 4-1 victory to take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven Ontario Hockey League western conference semi-final series.

The series will now shift to Sault Ste. Marie for games three and four at the Steelback Centre on Monday and Tuesday. Game times are 7 p.m.

The Greyhounds started strong on Friday night as Dustin Jeffrey's third goal of the playoffs on the power play gave the Hounds a 1-0 lead 1:33 into the game.

But the Knights woke up by the midway point of the first period and exploded for three goals, including their first on the power play, to take a 3-1 lead after one period.

London added another goal on the power play in the second period to cap the scoring.

David Meckler, Justin Taylor, Sergei Kostitsyn and Sam Gagner scored for the Knights.

Hounds goaltender Kyle Gajewski did have a solid game once again and faced 33 London shots. Knights netminder Steve Mason saw 36 Greyhound shots.

Tempers flared in the closing moments to set the stage for game three as four fights erupted in the final 6:03 of the game. Coaches Craig Hartsburg of the Hounds and Dale Hunter of the Knights were also exchanging words after the final buzzer.

*** GAME SUMMARY:

Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds 1 at London Knights 4 John Labatt Centre

1st Period 1. Sault Ste. Marie, D. Jeffrey (3) (J. Lalonde, C. Thornton) 1:33 PP 2. London, D. Meckler (7) (A. Perry, P. Kane) 10:00 PP 3. London, J. Taylor (2) (T. Perry, J. Foreman) 15:19 4. London, S. Kostitsyn (6) (P. Kane, J. Taylor) 19:42

Penalties - K. Montgomery Ldn (hooking) 0:57, C. Thornton Ssm (hooking) 3:37, C. MacKinnon Ssm (checking to the head) 9:54, J. Godfrey Ssm (high sticking) 11:53, S. Gagner Ldn (hooking) 12:15, J. Godfrey Ssm (roughing) 15:54, J. Taylor Ldn (tripping) 17:24

2nd Period 5. London, S. Gagner (4) (P. Kane, A. Perry) 13:23 PP

Penalties - M. Quesnele Ssm (roughing) 3:07, R. Drummond Ldn (slashing) 3:07, M. Clarke Ldn (hooking) 5:49, S. Gagner Ldn (slashing) 8:31, M. Quesnele Ssm (cross checking) 12:57, A. Desjardins Ssm (roughing) 16:00, S. Kostitsyn Ldn (slashing) 16:00, R. Martinelli Ldn (roughing) 16:00, J. Tlusty Ssm (tripping) 16:03, T. Perry Ldn (delay of game) 19:01

3rd Period No Scoring

Penalties - J. Godfrey Ssm (charging) 3:17, D. Meckler Ldn (slashing) 10:07, J. Taylor Ldn (holding) 13:38, C. Thornton Ssm (instigator, fighting, 10-minute misconduct) 13:57, S. Kostitsyn Ldn (fighting, 10-minute misconduct) 13:57, B. Biggers Ssm (interference) 17:24, J. Livingston Ssm (fighting) 17:24, C. MacKinnon Ssm (fighting, game misconduct) 17:24, R. Drummond Ldn (fighting) 17:24, G. McCarron Ldn (fighting, game misconduct) 17:24, J. Lalonde Ssm (fighting) 19:49, J. Moes Ssm (10-minute misconduct) 19:49, J. Shine Ldn (fighting) 19:49

SSM Shots: 16 12 8 TOTAL: 36 LDN Shots: 11 11 11 TOTAL: 33

Power Play Conversion Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds 1-9. London Knights 2-9.

Goaltenders Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds Gajewski 4-4-0-0 Min: 60:00 SV: 29 GA: 4 [L] London Knights Mason 6-0-0-0 Min: 60:00 SV: 35 GA: 1 [W]

Start : 7:33 PM End : 9:52 PM Attendance : 9090

Referee I: Mark Hicks (19) Referee II: Brent Holdsworth (22) LINESMAN I: Kevin Hastings (61) LINESMAN II: Darryl Wolfe (53)

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