Less than twenty-fours were set prior to the OHL Trade Deadline, and on Wednesday Night it was a West Division battle between the Hounds and Sarnia Sting. Both teams entered night with respective streaks on the line, as the Hounds were winners of five straight on Essar Centre ice meanwhile Sarnia had won four consecutive overall. And for the locals, a win over the Sting would close the gap for the race for first in the West Division. MATT MURRAY would get the call in net for the Hounds while Knick Dawe (AP from Georgetown -OJHL) was in-between the pipes for the Sting. A tentative start to the game offensively saw the Hounds muzzle Sarnia and hold them shotless before the Sting grabbed the first powerplay of the game 3:44 in. While just limiting the Sting to a single shot over the two minutes, the locals solid defensive play saw TYLER GAUDET block a key shot early, while playing without a stick lost on the play. NICK COUSINS and DAVID BROLL worked together the Hounds best early chance but couldn't challenge Dawe, while immediately following the powerplay Reid Boucher was turned away on a breakaway by MURRAY as the team's skated scoreless. It would be in the final seconds of the period the game's scoring would open. After a RYAN SPROUL point shot, BRANDON ALDERSON was in front to knock home his 11th goal of the year and a 1-0 Hounds lead after the first. TRENT MALLETTE saw the puck hop over his stick less than three minutes into the third, as the trio of MALLETTE, RYAN KIRKUP and MITCHELL DEMPSEY received appreciation of Hound Power followers for their energy all night long. Boucher pulled Sarnia even 7:07 into the second with his 31st goal of the year and a 1-1 score. JARED MCCANN just missed batting a puck mid-air with less than seven minutes to go before the locals regained the lead. Completing a perfect three-way passing play, DARNELL NURSE jumped into the play before burying a one-time feed set-up from DAVID BROLL and BRANDON ALDERSON for a 2-1 Hounds lead after forty-minutes. And while the Hounds outshot the Sting 27-17 through two periods, the visitors tested MURRAY with five quick shots in the opening 2:17 of the third, but the Thunder Bay, ON product was stellar in his busiest period of the night. RYAN SPROUL would later ring a right point shot off the post and the one-goal lead remained until the final minute. It's there that DYLAN STAPLES took the puck to neutral ice before icing his 10th goal of the year into an empty net and secure the 3-1 Hounds victory. With the win, the Hounds have now won 6 consecutive on home ice while improving their record to 21-18-2-1 on the year and moved within a single point of the 2nd place Plymouth Whalers, and within six points of the Sting. The locals continue their homestand this coming Saturday Night - January 12th when they host the Mississauga Steelheads in their only regular season visit to town. Puck drops at 7:07 p.m. Fans are reminded the night is Western Theme Night. There will be best dressed cowboy and cowgirl contest for both adults and children. Those participating can sign up at the Greyhounds marketing table for their chance to win great prizes. Need tickets? The Essar Centre Box Office is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday and Friday, while box office hours open at 10 a.m. on Saturday morning until game time. You can also order online at www.essarcentre.ca or by phone at 1.866.755.9422.
