The Sarnia Legionnaires let what looked like a certain victory slip through their fingers Saturday night.

Coach Dan Rose's Western Ontario Hockey Conference club dominated the Chatham Maroons for much of the game but still ended up losing 6-5 in a shootout competition.

On the positive side, the single point the Legionnaires picked up a for getting into extra time pulled them within three points of the fifth place St. Marys Lincolns.

Still, the outcome was a bitter pill to swallow, considering that Sarnia badly outplayed Chatham for most of the contest. In fact, the home side outshot the visitors 41-35. The Legionnaires, who twice led by three goals, also hit five goal posts.

But the plucky Maroons took advantage of powerplay opportunities, scoring three times with the man advantage to force the game into overtime.

Captain Tyler Cicchini started things off on a high note when he scored on the game's first shot to give the Legionnaires the lead at the 32 second mark. Tyler Annett and Shawn Waldie assisted on what was Cicchini's eighth of the season and his fourth in the last four games.

Owen Rogers, who was named the game's second star, made it 2-0 when he found the back of the net on a shorthanded breakaway at 2:50. The goal, which was unassisted, was the ninth of the year for Rogers.

Rookie Nathan Mater made it 3-0 on a powerplay, with Jesse Drydak and Rogers picking up helpers.

But the Maroons got one back before the first stanza came to an end.

In the second frame, despite dominating the action, Sarnia was unable to increase its lead, going into the dressing room ahead just 4-2.

Tanner Tomlinson got the Legionnaires goal on a nifty spin-a-rama move that ended with a backhand shot that lit up the red lamp. Jeff Schroeter and Brett Thompson got assists.

Not long after that, Tomlinson, who now has eight goals to his credit, was sent to the showers for fighting.

Third period collapse

Sarnia appeared to put the game away early in the third, when Mater got his second of the game and seventh of the season with a shot from the slot. Rogers and Drydak assisted.

But the Maroons scored three straight, including two with the extra man, to force overtime.

The Legionnaires almost won it in OT, but ended up going to a shootout.

Mike Rivard got the only goal of the shootout, beating Sarnia goalie Mike Reed to give Chatham the win.

Reed now has a 3-11-2 record.

The two teams are back in action tonight in Chatham.