By DAVE BORODY
KITCHENER – The
Sarnia Sting
dropped a
hard-fought 3-2
decision to the
Kitchener
Rangers, Friday
night in front
of 7,180 fans at
the Kitchener
Memorial
Auditorium.
It was the
second game in
two nights
against one
another as
Sarnia won 3-0
on Thursday.
The loss dropped
Sarnia’s record
to 24-20-4-2 in
the Ontario
Hockey League.
The game was
close from start
to finish as
Sarnia led 1-0
after one period
before Kitchener
held a 2-1
advantage after
40 minutes.
The Rangers went
ahead 3-1 midway
through period
three. Sarnia
closed the gap
to a goal two
minutes later,
but could not
come up with the
equalizer.
“It was a pretty
good hockey
game,” said
Sting head
coach, Trevor
Letowski. “It
was tight all
the way and
could have gone
either way. It
was a little
slow to start,
but that’s what
he wanted to do
in this rink.”
He added, “I
liked our push
back in the
third period. We
battled hard and
their goalie
made a couple of
big saves down
the stretch.”
As for splitting
the games with
Kitchener,
Letowski said,
“Overall I’m
happy with the
effort. Now we
have to focus on
Sunday’s game
with
Mississauga. If
we can get that
one, then it
will be a
successful
weekend.”
Sarnia was
outshot 9-3 in
the opening
period, but came
away with a 1-0
lead.
Alex Renaud
scored his 10th
goal of the
season at 18:49
when he
deflected home a
point shot from
Jeff King. Alex
Black also
assisted on the
play.
The Sting also
killed off a
pair of
penalties while
Sting goalie
Justin Fazio was
sharp making
three point
blank saves.
Midway through
period two Jakob
Chychrun of
Sarnia and Mike
Davies dropped
their gloves to
fight. The
linesmen got in
between the two
before any
punches were
thrown, but each
player was
handed a
10-minute
misconduct.
That put the
Sting down to
four defencemen
the remainder of
the period.
Kitchener tied
the game on the
power play at
12:26 when Darby
Llewellyn scored
from close
range. It was
the Rangers 18th
shot of the game
and their first
goal in 92
minutes and 26
seconds against
the Sting in the
last two games.
The Rangers took
a 2-1 lead at
15:02 when some
persistent
forechecking
paid off as Nick
Magyar snapped a
quick wrist shot
past Fazio.
The Sting had a
great chance to
tie the game
seven minutes
into period
three, but
Daniel Nikandrov
was robbed by
Rangers goalie,
Jake Paterson,
who made a great
diving save.
Kitchener went
up 3-1 at 10:57
when Brandon
Robinson’s high
wrist shot went
off the glove of
Fazio and into
the net.
But the Sting
cut the lead to
one again two
minutes later on
the power play
when Chychrun
drilled home a
hard slapshot
from the point.
Nikita
Korostelev and
Stephen Pierog
drew assists on
Chychrun’s 11th
goal of the
year.
Fazio was pulled
with over two
minutes
remaining and
the Sting had
three face-offs
in the Rangers
zone, but never
managed a shot
on goal.
The comeback
attempt took a
hit when
Chychrun was
forced to take a
slashing penalty
with 1:13
remaining trying
to get a
bouncing puck in
the Rangers
zone.
Kitchener
finished with a
31-30 edge in
shots on goal.
Letowski was
happy with the
effort of Fazio,
who made his
first start in
nearly a month
and only his
third start in
two months.
``Fazio was good
tonight for not
having played
much lately.
There were some
concerns about
how he would
play, but he
came up with
some big stops
and gave us a
chance to win in
a tough
environment.`
The Sting
complete weekend
play on Sunday
when they host
the Mississauga
Steelheads
beginning at
4:05 p.m. at the
RBC Centre.
Tickets for all
remaining Sting
home games are
on sale daily at
the RBC Box
Office, by
calling
519-541-1717 or
going online at
Sarniasting.com
STING NOTES
-
Sarnia
played two
players
under the
limit. Not
dressed were
Josh
Chapman,
Pavel Zacha,
Patrick
White,
Connor
Schlichting
and Josh
Defarias.
There were
no junior B
call-ups
available.
-
Llewellyn
was first
star with
Robinson
second star
and Chychrun
third star.
-
Sarnia took
five out of
eight points
against
Kitchener in
their season
series.
-
The Sting
was
one-for-five
with the man
advantage
and
Kitchener
one-for-six.
