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Sarnia, ON –
Jacques
Beaulieu's first regular season game against his
former club was a successful one, as the Sarnia
Sting come from behind for the second time in two
nights to defeat the London Knights 4-3.
It was
Sarnia's third win of the weekend, after a 7-2
victory over Saginaw on Friday, and a 5-4 overtime
victory over Plymouth. But more important, the Sting
have won seven straight games, and have got a point
or more in their last eight games.
"It was a
great game. Playoff atmosphere in October," said
Beaulieu. "A little chess match with them following
Nail around so we had to be sharp."
The
Knights kept Nail Yakupov off the score sheet
through the first period, capitalizing on a
powerplay to open the scoring, as Colin Martin beat
Brandon Maxwell to open the scoring. Sarnia came out
slow to start, perhaps due to three games in three
days, but they picked up the tempo late in the
first, carrying it over into the second.
Sarnia
only need 54 seconds into the second period to tie
things up, as Craig Hottot got his fourth of the
season off an Alex Basso shot from the point that
went off the end boards right onto Hottot's stick
for the backhand goal.
The goal
seemed to spark Sarnia, as the Sting became the
leaders in the chess match, after falling behind in
the first. Basso would get in on a second goal, this
time on the powerplay, as his shot from the point is
again tipped in front by Reid Boucher, with Charlie
Sarault finishing it off for Sarnia's first lead of
the game, as Sarnia took a 2-1 lead into the third
period.
The third
period saw both teams playing playoff caliber
hockey, as the top two teams in the Western
Conference looked to move ahead into first place.
And it would be the Knights who would strike first,
as Max Domi put a shot on net that got through the
pads Maxwell and found the back of the net to tie
the game at 2-2.
Just over
a minute later on a similar play, Maxwell again
couldn't handle the puck, and Bo Horvat is there to
bang in the puck in the crease, as London retakes
the lead 3-2.
But
London's system would start to break down as the
Knights found themselves a man down through most of
the second half of the third. And after shadowing
Yakupov all game, the Russian finally found an
opening, and blasted a cross ice pass from Reid
Boucher into the top of the net for another tie
game, 3-3.
Penalties
would be the undoing of London, as another powerplay
would result in the Sting's third powerplay goal.
Yakupov would have plenty of time behind the net,
and find Boucher coming in on the side who managed
to get one through a small space high and under the
crossbar for 4-3 Sarnia lead.
Despite
pulling their goalie, London would not find the back
of the net and penalty ended their chances, as the
Sting claim their third of the week with the 4-3
win.
Alex Basso
had a four point game, assisting on all four goals,
including the three powerplay goals.
"There is
a lot of talent out there and it makes my job a lot
easier," said Basso. "We obviously had a couple of
break downs on their goals, but our powerplay and
penalty kill was good. I think if we keep going like
this we will be a successful team."
Beaulieu
expected this kind of game from his former team, a
defensive chess match that would be won on special
teams. Sarnia has managed to keep their penalties
minutes to a minimum, being one of the least
penalized teams in the league, and having the third
best powerplay.
"We don't
take many penalties because we are a puck possession
team," said Beaulieu. "That is why the Red Wings
don't take many penalties. We try and do a lot of
stuff they do and keep the puck on our stick, and
when we have the puck on our stick we're not
defending it."
Sarnia is
now 8-1-1 through the first ten games of the season,
and is in first place in the Western Conference.
Beaulieu is happy with the way the team has been
progressing over the last ten games. But with 58
games still to play, Beaulieu still sees it as a
process.
"We got a
long ways to go yet," said Beaulieu. "We are happy
the way we are progressing, [the Sting] are showing
character, they are showing cohesion."
Sarnia is
home on Thursday against the Sault. Ste. Marie
Greyhounds before heading to Kitchener on Friday and
returning home to face Belleville on Saturday.
Follow Sarniasports on twitter
@sarniasports.
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