Photo courtesy of Joe Lemire, windsorspitfires.com



WINDSOR, ON-

After departing the Soo at 7 a.m. Thursday morning, the Hounds made their way into the WFCU Centre later that night for their second meeting of the season with the Windsor Spitfires.


The two teams entered the game separated by just 2-points in the OHL's West Division standings.  And while the Hounds would put a perfect 2-0 road record on the line, Windsor was attempting to stop a winless month of October (0-2-0-1).



The Hounds would be find themselves shorthanded just 1:05 into the opening period.  Twenty-four seconds into the Windsor powerplay, Derek Shoenmakers fired a low shot from the right of MATT MURRAY's goal to give Windsor the early 1-0 lead.



BRANDON ALDERSON tied things up at the 8:51 mark firing a shot to the top left on the goal of Jaroslav Pavelka, on the Hounds second powerplay of the game.  For Alderson, the goal marked his 100th career OHL point.  Assists went to NICK COUSINS and DARNELL NURSE.

Windsor would regain their lead, scoring on their second straight powerplay when Schoenmakers finished off a tick-tack-toe play before firing the shot from in front.

The Spitfires led 2-1 after the first period and outshot the Hounds 11-5.

Josh Ho-Sang increased the Windsor lead fifty-seven seconds into the second period finishing off a three-way passing play by backhanding a shot behind Murray.
Brady Vail made it 4-1 for the Spits at the 8:47 mark, as the team's leading scorer pounced on a  rebound to the left of the Hounds goal before the period was halfway through.

Trailing the Spitfires, the Hounds tried to work away at the deficit and were provided a glorious scoring chance when MICHAEL SCHUMACHER broke in on the right wing before sending a pass over to BRANDON ALDERSON, but the Hounds couldn't capitalize.

Later in their own zone CHRIS BUONOMO blocked a Windsor attempt and then RYAN KIRKUP tied up his man to take away the second chance to keep the score standing.

The Hounds would be rewarded late in the period, when with three seconds remaining in the period DARNELL NURSE put an innocent looking shot on goal from the point that beat Pavelka five-hold and cut the deficit to 4-2.
The goal followed a later penalty kill for the Hounds, who outshot Windsor 16-13 in the second.

JARED MCCANN brought the Hounds within a goal at the 6:58 mark of the third period firing a laser gloveside on Pavelka for his 3rd goal of the early OHL season.  NURSE and MATT MURRAY picked up the assists.  For the Hounds netminder that marked his 1st assist.

By the 7:56 mark of the third, the Hounds had held a strong defensive force and limited Windsor to just one shot against.

The Spitfires thought they increased their lead again two minutes later but the on-ice officials were quick to wave the goal off and a video review would confirm their decision.

After Kerby Rychel capitalized on a 2-on-1 with just over five minutes remaining, the Hounds pulled close once again.
While on the powerplay, and MURRAY on the bench for the extra attacker, SERGEY TOLCHINSKY fired a shot from the right slot to make it a 5-4 game at the 18:57 mark.

The Hounds entered the final minute pressing for the equalizing goal, and with their goalie pulled, Spitfire Michael Clarke sent the puck the length of the ice into the empty net at 19:17 and then followed it up for his 2nd goal of the night just 19 second later.

Windsor would drop the Hounds 7-4, and for the first time this year the Hounds lost two consecutive games despite outshooting Windsor 30-28 over the final two periods.

With the loss the Hounds record fell to 5 wins and 3 losses, good for 10 points and a tie with Windsor for top spot in the OHL's West Division.

Next action for the locals is Saturday Night - October 13th - when they travel to the Compuware Arena (Plymouth, MI) to take on the Whalers.  Game time is 7:05 p.m. and fans can hear all the action starting with the Bay Mills Resort & Casinos pre-game show on Rock 101 starting at 6:35 p.m.