Tired Hounds nipped in a shootout (video)

The Soo Greyhounds have played a ton of hockey in this recent stretch and Sunday will provide a well deserved break.

On Saturday night at the Steelback Centre, the Greyhounds, who have played nine games in the last 17 days and have three more contests next week, emptied the tank and battled the Ottawa 67's to a 5-4 shootout loss.

The loss snapped a five-game winning streak for the locals but earned them at least a point for the sixth straight contest.

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After a scoreless first period, the Greyhounds thought they might have opened the scoring early in the second period. Dustin Jeffrey sprung in alone on 67's goaltender Brady Morrison and tried to jam the puck past the goal line on a deke. After video review, there was no goal on the play and the game remained scoreless.

Midway through the middle frame, the Greyhounds finally get on the board as Cody Thornton tipped Michael Quesnele's point blast on the power play at 9:29 for his 15th goal of the season.

Less than two minutes later the Greyhounds power play strikes again as Josh Godfrey blistered a shot past Morrison for a 2-0 lead.

The 67's struck back before the end of the period as Derek Joslin beat Hounds starter Matt Hache from the point before Brodie Beard added another to send the game to the third frame tied at 2-2.

Two goals by Aaron Alphonso to open the third period built what seemed to be a comfortable 4-2 advantage for Ottawa.

But the Greyhounds found the energy needed to pull back to even terms. Another Godfrey shot on the power play at 9:14 found the back of the net and Jeffrey rifled his 16th goal of the year 47 seconds later to tie the game at 4-4.

After the five minute overtime session failed to declare a winner, the teams headed to a shootout.

In the skill competition, Thornton opened the scoring with some nifty moves on Morrision but Jamie McGinn eventually scored for the 67's on their final shot to extend the shootout to an extra round.

Brett Liscomb then scored the winner before Brandon MacLean, much like Jeffrey before him, saw the puck slip off his stick on the final attempt to end the game.

Jeffrey, playing his fourth game in as many nights, assisted on the first three Greyhound goals for a four point night while Thornton added a pair of helpers.

Ottawa outshot the Hounds 36-26 in front of 4,547 fans. Dustin Jeffrey grabbed first star honours while Thornton was named second star and Alphonso third.

Jiri Tlusty missed his second straight game for the Hounds with an ankle injury suffered on Wednesday night in Saginaw.

Greyhounds head coach Craig Hartsburg said following the game that he will give his charges the day off Sunday and will regroup again on Monday in preparation for Tuesday's game in Sudbury against the Wolves.

The Hounds, now 14-11-0-3 on the season, return home next weekend with games against the Kitchener Rangers on Friday and the London Knights Sunday. Game times are 7:30 p.m. and 7 p.m., respectively, at the Steelback Centre.

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