ST. MARYS – Tough luck around the net cost the Sarnia Legionnaires a game here last night.

The Legionnaires lost 4-2 to the hometown St. Marys Lincolns, despite the fact that they fired 48 shots on net.

They also hit two goal posts and a cross-bar.

Lincs netminder Stephen Heming earned third star honours for his brilliant work, especially in the third period, when he kicked out 20 of 21 shots.

Sarnia coach Jeff Perry noted he was four skaters under the limit, with Chase Clark and Jordan Leyser serving suspensions and Shawn Waldie sidelined with an injury. Waldie should be back next week, but the other two won't return until the last game of the regular schedule, which is slated to be played next Saturday in Forest.

Perry conceded his shorthanded squad, which was playing its second game in two nights, was a little tired when the final buzzer sounded. But the Legionnaires didn't show any quit. “We batted right to the end,” he said. “Anton Zupancic played a great game. He looked a little tired at the end, but it was well deserved.”

Owen Rogers got the Legionnaires off on the right foot when he got loose in front of the net early in the first frame and deflected home a one-timer from defenceman Jeff Paulley. Rearguard Tommy Ziolkowski also got a helper on the goal, which was the 11^th of the season for Rogers.

The Lincs battled back, taking a 4-1 lead by the end of the second frame.

In the final stanza Sarnia pressed hard, firing 21 shots on net. But Joel Steeves was the only Legionnaire to blink the red light. Brent Sauve set the play up when he created a turnover in the offensive zone and dropped a pass to Steeves, who did a nice curl and drag before beating Heming with a rising shot on the glove side. Steeves now has 15 on the year.

• The Legionnaires lost Rogers to a game misconduct for fighting during the opening minute of the third period. When two more Sarnians were given 10 minute misconducts, the club played much of the last half of the period with just 11 skaters.

• It was a rough affair that saw Sarnia assessed 53 minutes in penalties for 18 infractions. St. Marys was sent to the sin bin 13 times for a total of 35 minutes. The Lincs scored twice with the extra man, while Sarnia clicked once on the powerplay.

• The Legionnaires, who have just two games left in the regular schedule, are now 20-22-6. They are home to Strathroy next Thursday and in Forest on Saturday.