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Sarnia, ON
– Three Sarnia Sting players had three points
in Sarnia's home opener Friday night against the
Erie Otters, where the Sting scored three in the
third period to win 5-2.
Sarnia got
the scoring started on the powerplay, as Alex Basso
put a one timer shot from the blue line passed
Christopher Festarini to put the Sting up 1-0.
But the
lead didn't last long, as just over a minute later
Sondre Olden tied it back up at 1-1. But Sarnia in
less time then it took Erie, restored their lead, as
Brett Ritchie received a cross crease pass from Nail
Yakupov and scored his first of the season to put
the Sting back in front 2-1.
Sarnia
would look to take advantage of the first period on
another powerplay opportunity, but it would be the
Otters capitalizing, as Taylor Carnevale was knocked
off the puck, sending Chris Marchese and Connor
Brown on a 2-on-0, with Marchese finishing to tie
the game back up at 2-2 at the end of the first.
The game
went silent in the second period with neither
teaming finding the score sheet
In the
third, Sarnia came out with the fire power their
talented roster suggests they have. Nail Yakupov got
it started for the Sting, picking up his first goal
of the season and third point of the night, as a
Basso shot off the end boards was passed out from to
Yakupov by Carnevale to give Sarnia the 3-2 lead.
Just under
two minutes later, Ritchie would out forecheck the
Otters and cause a turnover, finding Craig Hottot
for a wrist shot over the shoulder of Festarini for
the 4-2 lead. Ritchie would also get his third point
of the night on a helper to Charles Sarault, his
third of the night as well, as the Sting end with
three goals in a third on route to a 5-2 victory.
Brendo n
Maxwell got the start for the Sting, and despite
looking shaky in the first, made 28 saves in his
first victory of the season.
"First
period I thought we played well," said Head Coach
Jacques Beaulieu. "We executed, I thought we were
really hard on the puck. The second period I thought
we didn't play well at all. I thought we were
selfish, we turned the puck over nine to ten times."
Beaulieu
was more impressed with a third where the Sting took
pucks to the net and played a more structured game,
resulting in three goals.
"The guys
that are suppose to score goals, scored goals in the
third."
Sarnia got
goal production from players typically in the lower
half of the forward lines. But Craig Hottot and
Charles Sarault both proved throughout the preseason
that they could put the puck in the net and be big
contributors to the Sarnia Sting offence.
"I think I
can contribute to this teams offence," sad Sarault.
"I still want to stay one of those guys that you can
depend on defensively. The defensive role is really
important. If you want to go far in this league you
got to be a defensive team first."
Sarnia
takes a day off before traveling to Windsor for an
afternoon game against the Spitfires at 2:00pm.
Follow Sarniasports on twitter
@sarniasports.
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