Courtesy of Sarnia Sting
file photo
ERIE, PA
– It was a battle from
start to finish but the
Sarnia Sting fell 3 - 1
against the CHL’s 5th
ranked team on Friday
night in front of 4,682
fans at the Erie
Insurance Arena.
Despite stealing
home-ice advantage from
McDavid and the Otters,
the road trip came with
a bitter end tonight as
the Sting couldn’t find
a way to beat goaltender
Devin Williams until the
third period. Both
netminders were solid in
goal as Dupuis turned
aside 26 shots in the
loss, and Williams, 24
in the win. Williams was
named the game's third
star.
Similar to Thursday
night’s game, a lack of
scoring was the story
after 20 minutes of
play. The lone
excitement in period one
came when ’97-born
winger Noah Bushnell and
Otters OA defenceman,
Cory Genovese squared
off in the first fight
of the series.
After being held to only
one assist in Game 1,
World Junior gold
medalist Connor McDavid
was the difference for
the Otters tonight,
tallying one goal and
one assist, ultimately
being named the game’s
second star.
Following yet another
scoreless opening frame,
it was the Otters
Captain who got his team
on the board first.
After cutting to the
front of the net on his
backhand, McDavid’s shot
caromed off a Sarnia
Sting defender and found
its way across the goal
line. Debrincat and Elie
were credited with the
assists on the goal
scored at 4:56 of period
two.
The Otters came on
strong after the McDavid
goal, scoring all three
of their goals within a
span of 10:00 in the
second period.
At 11:12 of period two,
Remi Elie increased the
margin for Erie; scoring
on a shot that was
deflected by the stick
of Jeff King. Marchment
and Taylor Raddysh drew
the assists on Elie’s
second of the series.
Elie was named the
game's first star.
The Otters’ third and
final goal was scored on
the powerplay as
Nicholas Baptiste made
no mistake, wiring home
a slap-shot from the
slot. McDavid and Strome
were handed the helpers.
Early on in the final
frame, it looked like
the Sting were making a
push as they got on the
board just 3:49 into the
period. Letowski,
juggling his lines to
try and get something
going, reunited Nikita
Korostelev with Zacha
and Kyrou. The tandem
cashed in for Sarnia’s
lone goal. Spinozzi and
Kyrou were credited with
the assists.
Despite a number of
great chances with the
goalie pulled, the Sting
failed to complete the
comeback and the series
is tied at 1 - 1.
Game 3 is slated for
Sunday night at the RBC
Centre in Sarnia. The
puck drops at 7:05 for
what is sure to be an
interesting contest.
Tickets for Games 3 & 4
are still available
while quantities last.
The Box Office will be
open Saturday from 9-5PM
and Sunday starting at
9AM. Tickets can be
purchase tickets online
at
www.sarniasting.com
or stop by the Box
Office, or call (519)
541-1717.
STING NOTES:
•Dupuis had another
solid effort in goal,
turning aside 26 of the
29 shots he faced.
•Nikita Korostelev, the
Sting’s regular season
leading scorer, buried
his first career OHL
Playoff goal in the
loss.
•The Sting were zero for
four with the extra
attacker, while the
Otters finished one for
seven.
•Not in uniform for the
Sting: Jakob Chychrun,
Connor Schlichting,
Brandon Lindberg, Matteo
Ciccarelli, Josh De
Farias, Franco
Sproviero, Brenden
Trottier, Chase Campbell
•Defenceman, Darren
Raddysh left the game
for the Otters in the
third and did not
return.
