Hounds win divisional battle (video added)

The Soo Greyhounds are back on top of the Ontario Hockey League’s West Division standings.

The Greyhounds ended the 2007 portion of their season with a 3-1 victory over the Windsor Spitfires on Saturday night at the Steelback Centre. The victory also vaulted the Greyhounds into top spot in the West Division, one point ahead of the Spitfires, who still have a game in hand on the Greyhounds.

“I thought that the whole team played well defensively,” said coach Denny Lambert. “Gajewski came up when he had to make the saves. We played our defensive style the way we wanted to play it. I think overall that’s a tribute to the whole team.”

Joshua Bailey opened the scoring for Windsor midway through the opening period but a late period power play goal by Andrew Campbell sent the game into the second period tied at one. Michael Quesnele gave the Greyhounds the lead late in the second period and Brandon MacLean sealed the win with an empty net goal with just over a minute remaining in the third period. MacLean and Campbell each finished the game with a goal and an assist.

Lambert was pleased with the play of Campbell, who now has three goals and two assists in his last two games.

“He’s been outstanding,” Lambert said of the veteran defenceman. “When we brought him in as a young defenceman, we saw some offensive flair in him. Defensively his game is there and he’s starting to jump up into the play. He’s very smart in reading the play and getting up ice. He’s done a great job.”

On the injury front, Greyhounds forward Dustin Jeffrey has skated the last two days and will skate on Sunday and Monday and Lambert said the team hopes to get him into some ‘battle drills’. Lambert didn’t rule out a possible return to the lineup on Tuesday against Sudbury, but Jeffrey’s return to the lineup isn’t guaranteed.

“I think he’s close,” Lambert said. “He’s skated and he’s shooting the puck. We’ve got two more days of rest and that will be huge to get him in that and see how he feels.”

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