Sting Outlast the Storm
january 11, 2015
By DAVE PAUL
Two nights after scoring a
dramatic game-winning goal in
the dying seconds to beat Erie,
Sting rookie star Jakob Chychrun
was at it again, Saturday.
This time, Chychrun scored on a
spectacular end-to-end rush,
splitting the defence and
flipping the puck high into the
net as he fell to his knees,
providing the insurance marker
in the Sting's 5-3 win over
Guelph.
It was an incredible goal and a
very timely one, coming just 30
seconds after the Storm had
scored to make the score 4-3.
And, with nearly 10 minutes left
to play in the third period, and
Guelph pressuring Sarnia, it
appeared that the Sting were
going to be in tough to hold
their lead against the defending
OHL champs.
The victory gave the Sting 44
points on the season and moved
Sarnia to within three points of
the fourth place team in the
conference -- the Guelph Storm.
Saturday's game was a possible
playoff preview and home ice
advantage in the first round
will go to the team which
finishes fourth in the
conference.
The Sting fell behind 1-0 early
in this game, but "stormed" back
with four straight goals --
three in the first period and
one early in the second.
Davis Brown got Sarnia on the
board with an unassisted
shorthanded goal. Daniel
Nikandrov put Sarnia ahead, then
Brown scored again for the
Sting.
That led to Guelph goalie Justin
Nichols being pulled in favour
of backup Bradley Van Schubert.
Nichols seemed to be fighting
the puck and actually got a
piece of all three Sarnia shots
that led to goals, but allowed
them to squeak past him.
The Storm actually outshot the
Sting 17-9 in the first period
(and 39-32 overall) but Sting
goalie Justin Fazio was strong
-- and at times acrobatic -- in
holding the Storm attack at bay.
He, and the Sting, were also
fortunate -- the Storm hit the
post five times during the game.
Guelph was playing without its
best player, Robby Fabbri, who
was injured while playing for
Canada at the World Jr.
Championships.
But the Storm still has plenty
of firepower and a power play
goal late in the second period
by Tyler Bertuzzi gave them hope
heading into the third.
Luke Cairns scored for Guelph
midway through the third,
cutting the Sting lead to 4-3,
and setting up Chychrun's
heroics.
Chychrun, 16, had been named one
of the team's assistant
captains, prior to Saturday
night's game. Stephen Pierog was
also named a Sting alternate
captain.
Post game interviews
The Sting are now off until
Thursday when they host
Kitchener. Plymouth visits on
Friday, while the Sting will
play at London on Saturday.
_________________________________________________________________
