Hounds rally to beat Rangers (video added)

The Soo Greyhounds showed they can overcome adversity.

Despite surrending a lead and losing co-captain Dustin Jeffrey early in the third period, the Hounds rallied to defeat the Kitchener Rangers 3-2 in an overtime shootout.

The game was a highly anticipated duel between the Ontario Hockey League's top two teams on Sunday night at the Steelback Centre.

Both teams played with intensity throughout and treated the over 4,600 fans in attendance to a highly emotional affair.

Josh Godfrey opened the scoring on the power play in the first period and game remained 1-0 in favour of the Hounds until late in the second period.

Justin Azevedo scored on the power play with 1:09 remaining in the second period before Nick Spaling put the Rangers ahead 2-1 1:49 into the third.

Dustin Jeffrey, who left briefly earlier in the game after taking a puck to his protective shield, left the game for good just over four minutes into the third period after taking a hard hit into the boards. Jeffrey appeared to be favouring his left arm.

Despite the setback, the Hounds rallied as Aaron Alphonso, who struggled earlier in the game, elevated his play and atoned for his penalty that led to the tying goal by shoveling the puck past Rangers goaltender Josh Unice to even the game with 9:11 remaining.

After a scoreless overtime, the Hounds took the early lead in the shootout as Chris MacKinnon deked out Unice on the first attempt.

Brandon MacLean countered Azevedo's goal to put the Hounds ahead 2-1 and set the stage for Greyhound goaltender Kyle Gajewski to seal the win with a pair of nice saves on Spaling and Mikkel Boedker.

Alphonso also assisted for a two point night while Matt Halischuk, who was a dominate force all game, set up both Ranger goals.

Kitchener outshot the Hounds 27-24.

The Greyhounds now sit two points behind the Rangers for first overall and hold a two point cushion on the Windsor Spitfires for first in the west division.

On Thursday, the Hounds travel to Windsor to begin a three-game road trip that will also take them to London on Friday and Sarnia on Sunday.

With seven straight games scheduled on the road, the locals do not return home until December 29 against the Spitfires.

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