Photo courtesy of James Egan Photography

SAULT STE. MARIE, ON-
MATT MURRAY would get his 2nd straight start for the Hounds on opening weekend, and the Thunder Bay, ON product would yet again be an influence in the outcome of the game.
The Hounds completed their weekend schedule with their first meeting of the season with the Windsor Spitfires.

After a scoreless ten minutes to start the game, the visiting Spitfires would connect on a pair of powerplay chances.
Michael Clarke, at 10:16 avoided a BRANDON ALDERSON defensive attempt to foil the Spitfires forward before putting a shot gloveside for the early Windsor lead.
Then just over four minutes later Jordan Maletta outreached the right leg of Murray to build up a two goal cushion for Windsor.

The Hounds would respond quickly, as at the 15:42 mark, DAVID BROLL got the second chance following a Hounds point shot and the big winger backhanded a shot past Spitfires netminder Jaroslav Pavelka while falling, and the Hounds trailed 2-1 after twenty minutes.

Windsor outshot the Hounds 11-8 in the period, and enjoyed 4 of the games first 6 powerplay opportunities.

Then in the second period, the game would get back on even terms at the 8:46 mark.  Cohesion among the Hounds forwards saw a nice three way play before NICK COUSINS slid the puck through for his first goal of the season, SERGEY TOLCHINSKY and RYAN SPROUL picked up the assists.

With less than four minutes to play in the period, and the game tied, MURRAY would put together some huge consecutive pad stops that enabled the Hounds to head into the dressing room remaining tied.

The third period saw more huge stops by MURRAY, but the Spitfires would solve him one more time.  At the 6:14 mark Brady Vail capitalized on a two-on-one, putting the puck to the gloveside for a 3-2 lead for the visitors.

The Hounds would use late pressure, and despite pulling the goalie for the extra attacker, could not pull even in dropping their first game of the regular season.

Windsor 3, Hounds 2 was the final.

Spitfires outshot the Hounds 39-31 in the contest.

The Hounds now head-out on their first regular season roadtrip with stops in Sarnia (Friday, September 28 - 7:05 p.m.) and Saginaw (Saturday, September 29 - 7:11 p.m.).  You can catch all the action starting 30 minutes prior to puck drop on Rock 101.

THREE STARS
1 - Matt Murray, SSM
2 - Jaroslav Pavelka, WSR
3 - Brady Vail, WSR

GAME NOTES:
- Attendance was 4,154
- Dickie's Hardest Working Hound was MATT MURRAY