The Soo Greyhounds used a complete team effort on Friday evening to chalk up a 5-0 victory over the Belleville Bulls in Ontario Hockey League action at Memorial Gardens.
Backed by a solid goaltending performance from rookie Kyle Gajewski, the Hounds snapped a two game losing skid and pulled themselves to within one point of the west division leading Plymouth Whalers, who dropped a 5-2 decision to Kitchener on Friday.
The Hounds set the tone in the first period taking the play to the Bulls outshooting their opponent 14-8 in the period. Chris Lawrence, who had a solid game in being named first star, got the Hounds on the board at 5:01 when he knocked a loose puck past Bulls netminder Eric Tobia.
The second period is when the Hounds took off.
Jeff Carter gave the Hounds a 2-0 lead when he broke in on a 2-on-1 with defenceman Jordan Smith and elected to shoot, beating Tobia to the blocker side just two minutes into the period.
Not long after the Carter goal, a pair of fights broke out as Matt Leszczynski and Matt Kelly did battle with Jacob King and Steve Spade doing battle in the same stoppage of play. King and Spade were each handed game misconducts for their efforts.
Andrew Gibbons added to the Hounds lead at 15:09 when he knocked a rebound past Tobia. Just 40 seconds later Jason Pitton converted an opportunity to give the Hounds a comfortable 4-0 lead. Andrew Desjardins capped the scoring at 17:31.
An uneventful third period saw the Hounds battle to hold the 5-0 lead and open their four-game homestand with a victory.
Gajewski stopped 26 Belleville shots for the shutout while Tobia stopped 37 shots in the loss.
Hounds coach Craig Hartsburg was pleased with the efforts of his troops following the game and was also happy with the play of Gajewski.
"If we don't play like that, we have very little chance of success," Hartsburg said. "Everyone chipped in tonight. (Gajewski) was solid. Five-on-five (Belleville) didn't have a lot of chances but when they were on the power play he played well. Your goaltender has to be your best penalty killer and he played well."
Hartsburg also commented on the play of the line of Desjardins, Gibbons and Ryan McInerney.
"The Desjardins line played a strong game," Hartsburg said. "For Ryan McInerney, that's the best game he's played offensively in a while."
With the Belleville game now in the books, the Hounds prepare to face another Eastern Conference foe as the Mississauga IceDogs make their lone appearance in Sault Ste. Marie on Saturday night.
The game is the first of two straight Saturday's on which the Hounds will play. Game time is 7:30 p.m.
*** AROUND THE O:
* In a game of importance to the Greyhounds in their battle for top spot in the OHL's west division, the Kitchener Rangers chalked up a 5-2 victory over the Plymouth Whalers. David Clarkson had a pair of goals along with an assist in the victory. Evan McGrath chipped in with three assists while Andre Benoit added two for Kitchener, who also got a goal and an assist each from Craig Voakes and Mike Duco.
* A two goal performance by Alexei Ivanov led the Toronto St. Michael's Majors to a 3-1 victory over the Saginaw Spirit. Wayne Savage stopped 33 Saginaw shots for the win.
* Erie received a goal and two assists from Geoff Platt as the Otters defeated Guelph 4-2. Overage Captain Brian Lee also chipped in to the victory with a goal and an assist.
* Dayne Davis stopped all 21 shots directed his way as the Kingston Frontenacs shut out Oshawa 6-0. Radek Smolenak led the way offensively with a goal and a pair of assists while Ben Shutron and Derek Lyons had a goal and an assist each. Evan Kotsopoulos added a pair of assists in the victory.
* The London Knights gave up four second period goals to the Peterborough Petes but then battled back with five goals of their own in the third period to pick up a 7-5 victory over the Petes. Overage defenceman Bryan Rodney led the way for the Knights with a pair of goals to go along with the two assists he also put up. Corey Perry had three assists as well for the Knights. Former Knight Logan Hunter had a goal and an assist in the loss.
* Martin Lojek and Dan McDonald each had a pair of assists as Brampton defeated Ottawa 5-1. Brampton received goals from five different players in the victory.
* Trevor Koverko had a goal and an assist while Igor Gongalsky added a pair of assists in Owen Sound's 5-3 win over Sarnia. Steve Savor and Sault native Trevor Solomon each had a goal and an assist in the loss.
* Patrick O'Sullivan led the way with two goals and an assist as Mississauga beat Sudbury 5-1. Michael Swift added a goal and an assist while Michael Ouzas stopped 25 shots in the win.