Hounds drop a key game to Saginaw (video)

The Soo Greyhounds saw their chances of securing home ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs take a big blow on Wednesday night at the Steelback Centre.

With the power play struggling and the intensity level not at its maximum level, the Greyhounds dropped a 4-1 decision to the Saginaw Spirit.

The loss, which follows a 3-2 shootout loss in Saginaw on Sunday, drops the Greyhounds six points behind the Spirit, who also hold a game in hand, for fourth place in the Ontario Hockey League's western conference.

Click here to view SooToday video highlight reel

To make matters worse, the Hounds fell two points behind Guelph for fifth spot after the Storm, who also hold a game in hand, defeated the Owen Sound Attack 4-1 on Wednesday night.

The Sarnia Sting are lurking close behind the sixth place Hounds in seventh position just three points off the pace with two games in hand.

The Greyhounds do get an opportunity to gain ground with a head-to-head battle with the Storm on Saturday night at the Steelback Centre beginning at 7:30 p.m. Before that, the Hounds travel to Sudbury to face the Wolves on Friday night.

With seven games remaining in the regular season, the Hounds also face Sarnia three times and the Plymouth Whalers, who are battling London for top spot in the league, twice.

In Wednesday's contest, Saginaw grabbed a 1-0 first period lead on a goal by Tom Pyatt just 54 seconds in.

The score held until midway through the second period when Cody Thornton took a rebound off the end boards and beat Ryan Daniels for his 34th goal of the season to knot the game up at 1-1.

But the Saginaw power play took over from there and capitalzed on three opportunities. Patrick Asselin, Ryan O'Marra and Pyatt with his second of the night scored for the Spirit.

The Greyhounds power play failed to capitalize on seven opporunities. Kyle Gajewski faced 25 Saginaw shots in goal for the Hounds while Daniels stopped 27 of 28 shots for the Spirit.

Click here to view SooToday video highlight reel