Hounds drop playoff opener in London

The London Knights drew first blood in the opening game of the Ontario Hockey League western conference quarterfinal with the Soo Greyhounds on Thursday night.

In London, the Knights built a 3-1 lead through two periods and added three more goals in the third period to skate to a 6-1 victory.

Game two in the best-of-seven series goes Friday in London at 7:30 p.m. The series will shift to Sault Ste. Marie for games three and four on Sunday and Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Memorial Gardens.

Former Greyhound Jamie VanderVeeken opened the scoring just 54 seconds into the contest before Sergei Kostitsyn added another for a 2-0 lead with a power play goal early in the second period.

Ryan Kitchen scored the lone Greyhound goal on the power play midway through the frame to cut the lead in half but it is as close as the Greyhounds would come.

Dylan Hunter scored late in the second period before opening the third period with a power play marker. David Bolland rounded out the scoring with two more goals with the man advantage. Rob Schremp recorded five assists and Kostitsyn four.

Kyle Gajewski stopped 38 of 44 shots in the loss while Adam Dennis faced 31 Greyhound shots for the win.

*** OHL PLAYOFF SCHEDULE:

EASTERN CONFERENCE - QUARTERFINAL SERIES

Series "A" - PETERBOROUGH vs. OTTAWA

(Peterborough leads series 1-0)

Thurs., March 23 - Peterborough 3 Ottawa 2 (2OT) Sat., March 25 at Ottawa 7:00 (at Scotiabank Place) Mon., March 27 at Peterborough 7:00 Wed., March 29 at Ottawa 7:00 Fri., March 31 at Peterborough 7:00* Sun., April 2 at Ottawa 2:00* Tues., April 4 at Peterborough 7:00*

Series "B" - BRAMPTON vs. BELLEVILLE

Fri., March 24 at Brampton 7:30 Sun., March 26 at Brampton 2:00 Mon., March 27 at Belleville 7:05 Wed., March 29 at Belleville 7:05 Fri., March 31 at Brampton 7:30* Sat., April 1 at Belleville 7:05* Tues., April 4 at Brampton 7:30*

Series "C" - BARRIE vs. TORONTO

(Barrie leads series 1-0)

Thurs., March 23 - Barrie 4 Toronto 3 (OT) Fri., March 24 at Toronto 7:30 Sun., March 26 at Barrie 6:00 Tues., March 28 at Toronto 7:30 Thurs., March 30 at Barrie 7:30* Sun., April 2 at Toronto 2:00* Mon., April 3 at Barrie 7:30*

Series "D" - KINGSTON vs. SUDBURY

Fri., March 24 at Kingston 7:30 Sat., March 25 at Kingston 7:00 Tues., March 28 at Sudbury 7:30 Wed., March 29 at Sudbury 7:30 Fri., March 31 at Kingston 7:30* Sun., April 2 at Sudbury 7:00* Tues., April 4 at Kingston 7:00*

WESTERN CONFERENCE - QUARTERFINAL SERIES

Series "A" - LONDON vs. SAULT STE. MARIE

(London leads series 1-0)

Thurs., March 23 - London 6 Soo 1 Fri., March 24 at London 7:30 Sun., March 26 at Sault Ste. Marie 7:00 Tues., March 28 at Sault Ste. Marie 7:00 Thurs., March 30 at London 7:00* Sat., April 1 at Sault Ste. Marie 7:30* Mon., April 3 at London 7:00*

Series "B" - PLYMOUTH vs. WINDSOR

Sat., March 25 at Plymouth 7:30 Sun., March 26 at Windsor 7:00 Tues., March 28 at Plymouth 7:30 Thurs., March 30 at Windsor 7:30 Sat., April 1 at Plymouth 7:30* Sun., April 2 at Windsor 7:00* Tues., April 4 at Plymouth 7:30*

Series "C" - KITCHENER vs. OWEN SOUND

Fri., March 24 at Kitchener 7:30 Sat., March 25 at Owen Sound 7:30 Mon., March 27 at Kitchener 7:00 Wed., March 29 at Owen Sound 7:00 Fri., March 31 at Kitchener 7:30* Sat., April 1 at Owen Sound 7:30* Mon., April 3 at Kitchener 7:00*

Series "D" - GUELPH vs. SAGINAW

Fri., March 24 at Guelph 7:30 Mon., March 27 at Saginaw 7:11 Tues., March 28 at Guelph 7:00 Thurs., March 30 at Saginaw 7:11 Sat., April 1 at Guelph 7:30* Sun., April 2 at Saginaw 7:11* Tues., April 4 at Guelph 7:00*

* Denotes if necessary games.

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