By Dan McCaffery
The Sarnia Legionnaires dropped a 4-3 shootout decision to the LaSalle Vipers Saturday.
But because the Jr. 'B' hockey contest went into extra time, the home team picked up a point, marking the 10th straight game in which Sarnia has collected at least one point.
The Legionnaires now lead seventh place Strathroy by two points in the GOJHL's western conference standings.
Perhaps more important, Jason Teschke had two goals and an assist to move five points ahead of LaSalle's Dylan Denomme in the race for the conference scoring championship.
Teschke now has 35 goals and 44 helpers for 79 points. Denomme, who set up one goal Saturday, has 74 points.
LaSalle has four games left to play, while Sarnia has five.
Sarnia coach Dan Rose was pleased with the work of his special teams. “Our power play was moving the puck well tonight,” he said. He added the Legionnaires did a good job against what he called an “awesome” Vipers power play.
Denomme opened the scoring at the 8:40 mark of the opening frame but Teschke tied the game six minutes later with the Legionnaires enjoying a two-man advantage.
In the middle period Sarnia ran into penalty trouble and fell behind 3-1.
The score could have been worse if not for the fact that goalie Sean Parker stopped Denomme on a penalty shot.
In the final stanza the Legionnaires dominated play and were rewarded with goals by Derek D'Andrea and Teschke. D'Andrea's goal was also a power play marker.
Davis Boyer, playing his first game in more than three weeks, had two assists for Sarnia. Other assists went to Brent Sauve and D'Andrea.
Sarnia outshot the Vipers 29-25, including 4-1 in the five-minute overtime session.
In the shootout, Eric Noel scored the winner.
Boyer had the best Legionnaire chance in the penalty shot competition but his shot hit the post. He also hit a goal post in regulation time.
Attendance at the Brock Street Barn was 1,046.
