Hounds take giant leap toward playoff spot

In the most anticipated game of the season, the Soo Greyhounds scored a dramatic win to move another step closer to a playoff berth.

In front of a packed house of 3,859 fans at Memorial Gardens, the second largest crowd of the season, Jordan Smith proved to be the hero as converted a cross ice pass from Jeff Carter with 3.5 seconds left in overtime to score a 5-4 win over the Windsor Spitfires.

The win paid huge dividends for the Greyhounds in the race for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Ontario Hockey League's Western Conference.

The Greyhounds moved four points ahead of the Spitfires, who hold a single game in hand, with six games remaining in the regular season. The meeting was the final one of the season between the two clubs.

"We let them off the hook and we took a bad penalty ahead 4-2 and let them make it 4-3 late in the period but it was a great way to finish in front of a big crowd with a couple seconds left and we'll take this one," said Greyhounds head coach Marty Abrams.

Windsor entered the game on a four game losing streak and with a new coach after general manager Mike Kelly pulled the trigger on Steve Smith earlier in the week and added the coaching role to his title in an attempt to spark his team into the playoffs.

The teams started the game on a tentative note as both sides appeared to be more afraid of making a mistake than creating opportunities.

"I was a little surprised by the slow start but we were tentative in practise at times this week and as the week went on we started to realize that maybe these guys are a little bit nervous and apprehensive," said Abrams.

"We started the game like we practised and we were a little bit tentative but we battled hard and worked through it."

Sault native Craig Kennedy, who would later add an assist and be selected as the game's second star, put the Spitfires up 1-0, 4:52 into the game as he slid the puck past Greyhounds netminder Kevin Druce while being hooked to the ice.

Matt Puntureri tied the game on the power play midway through the period after tipping Smith's point shot past Spits goaltender Matt Anthony.

Windsor took the lead again early in the second period as Steve Downie scored on the power play.

Scott Dobben's 28th goal of the season tied the game at 2-2 after he collected a Travis Chapman dump in that bounced off the end boards and in front of the net. Dobben added another goal just 1:39 later as the overage forward grabbed a loose puck in front of the Spitfires goal and fired a shot into the top corner of the net.

Brad Good scored his first OHL goal with 1:22 remaining in the second frame to put the Hounds ahead 4-2. The rookie defenseman's dump in hit the stick of Spitfires defenseman Mitch Maunu and changed directions past Anthony who leaning the wrong way.

The Spitfires rallied and answered just 42 seconds later as Downie, who later left the game in the third period after laying on the ice for several minutes after a Jeff Doyle hit, netted his second of the game on the power play.

Just 1:20 into the third period, Windsor tied the game as Maunu scored his fifth of the year. Kennedy nearly ended the game for Windsor late in regulation time as his shot snuck through the legs of Druce but the Greyhound goaltender was able to reach behind and keep the puck from entering the net.

In overtime, the Greyhounds were buzzing in the Windsor zone in the game's final minute. Dobben, the game's first star, nearly tipped in a Smith shot before Anthony took a glorious chance away from Jeff Larsh with a poke check just seconds before Smith's winner.

Chapman recorded two assists for the Greyhounds while Smith also added helper. Rob Hennigar had three assists for Windsor. Druce stopped 30 of 34 shots while Anthony made 38 saves on 43 shots.

The win improves the Greyhounds record to 28-30-3-1 while Windsor falls to 23-28-2-8.

"We'll take the points, worry about Sarnia tomorrow and enjoy the day. We still need some big wins and we still have a long way to go but it's nice to get this win," said Abrams.

The Greyhounds are back in action on Sunday against the Sarnia Sting at 2 p.m. at Memorial Gardens.

*** CORRECTIONAL VISIT:

The Greyhounds will make their annual visit to the Kinross Correctional Facility on Saturday afternoon in Kinross, Michigan.

Organized by Ross Mervyn and the local Associated Canadian Travellers (ACT), the Greyhounds will scrimmage against the prison hockey team, receive a tour of the facility, meet some inmates and received a speech from Mervyn on the dangers of drugs and alcohol.

Mervyn has volunteered his time for several years at the facility organizing athletic programs for the inmates and has the facility's track named in his honour.

*** CARTER IN TRADE RUMOURS:

While Jeff Carter is helping his Soo Greyhounds in the OHL playoff race, his name is being tossed around in National Hockey League trade rumours.

The New York Post is reporting that the Philadelphia Flyers, who drafted Carter in the first round last summer, are interested in services of New York Rangers defenseman Brian Leetch and the cost would be Carter.

Philadelphia, though, is one of several teams interested in the services of the veteran all-star.

To read the article from Friday's Post, click here.