Jeffrey's return sparks Hounds to win (video added)

The effect of Dustin Jeffrey's return to the Soo Greyhounds lineup was immediately felt.

Jeffrey scored once and set up two others to lead the Greyhounds to a 6-3 win over the Plymouth Whalers on Friday night in front of 4,733 fans at the Steelback Centre.

The Hounds co-captain, who had been out of the lineup since December 2 with a shoulder injury, missed a total of nine games.

The victory also allowed the Greyhounds to pull three points ahead of the Windsor Spitfires, who took a 6-1 thrashing from the Sarnia Sting on Friday, for first place in the Ontario Hockey League's west division.

Aaron Alphonso, Brandon Biggers, Brandon MacLean, Michael Quesnele and James Livingston into an empty net also scored for the Greyhounds, who led 3-1 after one period 5-2 after two.

The Whalers were missing starting goaltender Jeremy Smith, who was in the Czech Republic with the U.S. suffering a 4-1 loss to Canada, and the Hounds took full advantage by grabbing a 3-0 lead 14:35 into the game.

The locals did make things interesting in the third period when penalty troubles allowed Plymouth to cut the score to 5-3 with 9:02 remaining in the third period.

Sault product Matt Caria recorded his first point as a Hound with an assist on Alphonso`s opening goal before being sent to the showers early in the third period for throwing punches on a turtled Chris Terry.

Kyle Gajewski picked up the win in goal stopping 26 shots.

The Greyhounds continue their homestand on Saturday as the London Knights visit for a 7:30 p.m. start.

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