By Dan McCaffery

FOREST – A hot goaltender gave the Lambton Shores Predators a 2-0 win over the Sarnia Legionnaires here Friday.

Brandon Campbell made 31 saves and got an assist to lead the home squad to a huge win.

In fact, the victory lifted the Preds into eighth place in the Western Ontario Hockey Conference standings, one point ahead of the ninth ranked St. Marys Lincolns and just one back of the Legion crew.

Whoever finishes ninth will be on the outside looking in when playoffs roll around in March.

Sarnia assistant coach Bob Farlow, who handled the bench in the absence of head coach Dan Rose, felt his team deserved a better fate.

"They hardly had any opportunities against us,” Farlow said. “They were outchanced and outshot. But that's hockey.”

Farlow had praise for Campbell, saying he always plays well against the Legionnaires.

There's little doubt Sarnia had the territorial edge indeed, the Predators had only 22 shots and their second goal was into an empty net.

But it should be noted that the Preds were playing shorthanded. They had only 14 skaters dressed and, included among those missing, were their two top scorers (Adam Arseneault and Kyle Brothers).

Sarnia had 16 skaters, or two under the limit. Included among their missing players was veteran defenceman Tyler Prong.

Austin Fetterly scored the winner in the first period and Cale Duberry added an empty net goal in the final minute of play.

Campbell earned his assist on the second Lambton marker.