Photo courtesy of James Egan Photography (to view all game photos please visit his Facebook page by CLICKING HERE).

Post-game audio provided by Brad Coccimiglio (Sootoday.com)

SAULT STE. MARIE, ON-

The Erie Otters have struck first, in their second round series against the Hounds.

As the two teams opened their Western Conference Semi-Final series on Wednesday Night, it was the visitors who scored once in each of the periods before taking a 3-1 win over the Hounds.

And as a result a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.

Playing against one of the OHL’s powerhouses, the Hounds would surrender the opening goal of a game for the first time this post-season.

Just under two minutes into the game the Otters worked the puck behind the Greyhound goal before sending it out front to Michael Curtis who one-time a shot past MATT MURRAY for the 1-0 lead.

(assists to Dylan Strome and Troy Donnay).

And while it took the Hounds over five minutes to generate their first shot on goal, the first half of the period was one of watching, and adjusting according to Hounds Head Coach Sheldon Keefe.

“They’re the best defensive team. They’re big, they’re strong, they’re old. It felt like we played in a different league compared to what we faced in the first round. It took us a while to ease into that, and get used to that just like Game 1 of the playoffs” he said.

“We can get a lot better, I know that. So that’s the positive coming out of this. We can get a lot better and we’re going to have to be” he continued.

Over the latter part of the first period, the Hounds physical play increased while generating some chances.

With just over a minute to play in the period PATRICK WATLING worked a shorthanded breakaway but had his attempt to go five-hole on Devin Williams denied.

The second period was a much different story.

After killing off nineteen seconds of an Erie powerplay followed by a Hounds powerplay of their own the club ran out to a 7-1 shot advantage in the period while the game was just over five minutes old.

Around twelve minutes into the period, the Hounds found themselves out numbered around their own goal and Dylan Strome was fed the puck where he netted his first playoff goal for a 2-0 Erie lead.

(Assists to Brendan Gaunce and Spencer Abraham).

With DAVID MILLER ringing a powerpay chance off the post late in the period, it was part of the club’s best period of the game.

They outshot the Otters 14-8 in the second.

“I wouldn’t say we had great chances, no. I think that the whole game there wasn’t a whole lot of great chances for either team. We generated enough to have atleast a goal through that second period. To lose that period is tough, we felt we played a real good period” commented Keefe.

The Hounds would kill off 24 seconds of a penalty to start the third period and have to wait until over seven-and-a-half minutes in before getting their first shot on goal.

With twelve mintues to play SERGEY TOLCHINSKY stickhandled inside the offensive zone before his play to ANDREW FRITSCH led to the overage pausing before the quality chance wouldn’t connect.

Later TYLER GAUDET fanned on a feed from PATRICK WATLING, limiting what he was looking for, as the Hounds still searched for their first goal of the game.

Connor Brown made it a 3-0 deficit with just over four mintues to play going glove side on MURRAY, with a delayed penalty coming to the Hounds.

The locals struck back just sixteen seconds later when KYLE JENKINS faked a slap shot then fired home his 1st post-season goal and point, with the assist to JARED MCCANN.

The Greyhounds would pull MURRAY with around two minutes to play and would later end the game with an empty net, and the 3-1 defeat at the hands of the Otters.

“Ya, just like I was in game one last series. Disappointed, but it just goes to show you how much growth we have to have as a team” concluded Keefe when asked if he was disappointed in the opening game result of the series.



Game 2 of the series goes this Friday Night – April 4th, with opening face-off set for 7:07 p.m. at the Essar Centre.

Tickets are on-sale 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, and starting at 10 a.m. again Friday at the Essar Centre Box Office or you can purchase online at www.essarcentre.ca or by phone at 1.866.775.9422.

ATTENDANCE – 4,305

RED STAR THREE STARS OF THE GAME

1- ER, Devin Williams

2- ER, Dylan Strome

3- SSM, Jared McCann

To view the complete online scoresheet courtesy of the Ontario Hockey League CLICK HERE.