Hounds snap winless skid

They needed an outstanding goaltending performance to do it, but the Soo Greyhounds snapped their six-game winless skid on Sunday afternoon with a 4-3 victory over the visiting Owen Sound Attack.

Hounds netminder Jakub Cech put in a strong effort in the win stopping 48 Attack shots, including 22 in the second period alone.

The teams battled to a scoreless tie through one period, despite three short two-man advantage power plays for the Greyhounds.

In the second period, Sault native Patrick Jarrett put Owen Sound on the board beating Cech top shelf on the power play just over five minutes in.

Jonathan Lehun gave the visitors a two goal cushion at 14:15 before Chris Lawrence scored a power play goal for the Greyhounds at 15:36 to send the game into the second intermission with the Attack leading 2-1.

The third period is where things got interesting.

Jeff Doyle tied the game at 2-2 just under two minutes into the period as he deflected a point shot from Brad Staubitz past Attack goalie Robert Gherson. Doyle then gave the Hounds the lead at 18:02 when he snapped a shot past Gherson, who was screened on the play.

The Hounds lead lasted just 17 seconds as Lehun scored his second goal of the night at 18:19.

The tie score lasted just over a minute as Hounds rookie Jason Pitton scored the game winner at 19:22 to give the Hounds their first win since knocking off Brampton 5-1 at Memorial Gardens back on November 28th.

Doyle and Cech were the stars for the Hounds. Doyle, despite not being named as one of the three stars of the game, played well and got the ball rolling with his early third period goal. He also assisted on the game winner.

Cech came up big when he needed to on this day and was rewarded with a strong performance in being named the game's first star.

"There's no denying that for this hockey team to be successful we need good goaltending," Hounds coach Marty Abrams. "(Cech) is a real professional. After the game he came to me and said about the third goal (Lehun's goal at 18:19), 'Sorry coach I should have had that one.'"

Abrams went on to say that he was also impressed with the play of Gherson in the Attack goal, calling the overage netminder "one of the best goalies in the league."

Abrams was also happy with his team's ability to battle for the win.

"We found a way to win tonight. We found out that when you throw the puck at the net, anything can happen."

The Greyhounds now hit the road for two games before the Christmas break as they head to Barrie to take on the Colts on Thursday night and Guelph for a game against the Storm on Friday.

Next home action for the Hounds is on December 28th at 2 p.m. when the Sarnia Sting pay a visit to Memorial Gardens.

In other afternoon action in the Ontario Hockey Leaugue on Sunday, a two goal performance by Zack Stortini helped the Sudbury Wolves to a 6-3 win over the Saginaw Spirit.

Brad Efthimou picked up a goal and two assists in leading Mississauga to a 4-1 win over Brampton while third period goals by Connor Cameron, Nathan McIver and Ryan Rorabeck led Toronto St. Michael's to a 5-3 win over Kingston.

Andre Benoit, cut earlier in the day from the Canadian National Junior team tryout taking place in Kitchener, picked up three assists in a 4-1 Kitchener Rangers win over Ottawa.