KITCHENER, ON – Despite registering the
game’s first goal and out-shooting the Rangers 34-28, the Sarnia
Sting came up short with a final score of 3 - 2 in front of 6,518
fans at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium Tuesday night.
With the win, the Rangers remain atop the OHL Standings.
Justin Fazio made his 16th start of the season in goal for the
Sting, going the distance and turning aside 25/28 shots faced.
Blues’ prospect Luke Opilka was the difference in goal for the
Rangers, making 32 saves and skating away with the win for the home
side. Opilka was named the game’s first star.
Hayden Hodgson opened the scoring 3:57 into the opening frame as he
banged home the Nikandrov rebound for his 2nd of the campaign.
Connor Schlichting was credited with the second assist.
The Rangers responded at 18:07 of period one as Gustaf Franzen
capitalized on a pretty feed from Sergeev. The game-tying goal was
the Rangers’ first of two powerplay goals on Tuesday.
In fact, all three Kitchener goals came from their special teams.
The club’s second goal came at 8:28 of the second period when McHugh
streaked in all alone short-handed and beat Fazio for his first
career OHL goal.
The Rangers would add another in the second period, this time from
the stick of veteran sniper Ryan MacInnis.
It looked like the Sting were going to head into the intermission
down 3-1 until sophomore forward Jordan Kyrou buried his first of
the season with under 1:30 remaining in the period.
Despite mustering 8 shots to Kitchener’s 3 in the final frame,
Opilka stood tall for the Rangers and the Sting weren’t able to find
the equalizer.
The Sting are back in action on Friday night in Flint before
returning home to the SSEC on Saturday night to take on the visiting
Guelph Storm. Puck drop for Saturday’s game is 7:05 PM.
Sting Notes:
•Sarnia’s powerplay was 0/4 on the night while the Rangers went 2/8.
•Jordan Kyrou scored his first goal of the season and was named the
game’s 2nd star
