Hounds Down Sting In Tight Affair
Sarnia, ON The Sting hooked up with the Soo Greyhounds for the 6th and final meeting between the West Division rivals Friday night at the SSEC.
Unfortunately for the Sting they would come up on the short end of a tight game, dropping a 2-1 decision to the West Division leading Greyhounds.
Things would get off to a good start however when Sting forward Chad Painchaud would get the team in flight when he beat Sault Ste Marie netminder Jakub Cech for his 16th of the season giving the Sting a 1-0 lead.
Rookie netminder Mike Iafrate would close the door on the Hounds in the first giving the Sting a 1-0 lead after 20 minutes of play.
The second period would follow suit, as both teams would exchange scoring opportunities with both goalies coming up big for their respective clubs.
The Greyhounds would get on the board in the second on a pretty individual effort by their star forward Jeff Carter.
Carter while shorthanded stole the puck from a Sting defender at his own blue line then muscled his way into the Sting zone before beating Iafrate high to the glove side knotting the score at 1 heading into the third period.
The third would see both teams have their share of scoring chances with both goalies coming up big for their respective clubs.
Once again it was Carter who would come through in the clutch for the Greyhounds. This time it was parking himself in front of the Sting goal and redirecting a point shot from Brad Good past Iafrate who had no chance on the play.
Carter’s 2nd of the night would round out the scoring making the final 2-1 for Sault Ste Marie.
The Sting look to get back into the win column Saturday night when they travel to Plymouth to take on the Whalers. The Whalers are trying to track down the Greyhounds for first place in the West Division and the all-important second seed in the playoffs.
The Sting will then return home Sunday night to take on the Sudbury Wolves for a 6:00 puck drop. Sunday is hockey card night with 2004-2005 team sets going on sale. As well all who purchase a set of cards can get them signed by the team following the game.
