FOREST – The Sarnia Legionnaires ended their regular schedule on a high note here last night.

Coach Jeff Perry's defending Western Jr. 'B' champions thumped a spunky but outclassed Lambton Shores Predators squad 6-2. The win gives the Legion crew a record of 21-23-6, good enough for sixth place in the nine-team Western Conference of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League.

But the Sarnians will have to wait for the result of tonight's contest between the London Nationals and the St. Thomas Stars before they'll find out where they finish – and who they'll face in the first round of the playoffs. If St. Thomas wins, the Stars will take over sixth, leaving the Legionnaires to play second seeded Strathroy. But if the Nats are triumphant, Sarnia will square off against the third place Chatham Maroons.

The Predators, who finished in last place and out of the playoffs for the second year in a row, played a strong first period, taking a 1-0 lead. Kalvin Thornton gave the home team that edge when he scored a powerplay maker at the 14:28 mark.

But Tanner Tomlinson squared matters with an unassisted effort just 14 seconds later. The tenacious forward stole the puck deep in Predators territory, then rifled home a hard drive from the faceoff circle.

Sarnia captain Tyler Cicchini broke in alone on a shorthanded thrust shortly after that and rang a shot off the goal post.

In the second frame the Legionnaires took over, with veteran Joel Steeves leading the charge. The big forward took a pass from Josh Teschke and scored from point blank range at the 6:02 mark to put the visitors ahead 3-1. Tomlinson also drew an assist. Twelve minutes later Steeves struck again, this time with a backhand shot from the slot that went high into the air and then floated into the net in what looked like an almost slow motion play. The goal, which was assisted by Cicchini and defenceman Tanner Ferguson, was the 16^th of the campaign for Steeves.

In the final stanza Tomlinson got his second of the night and 14^th of the season at the 1:26 mark when he jumped on a loose puck in the crease and banged it into the open side of the cage. Predators goalie Sean Parker, who was on his knees, had no chance on the play. Steeves and defenceman Anton Zupancic drew assists.

Drydak notched his team-leading 32^nd of the year less than three minutes later when he got into the open in front of Parker and fired the puck through the five-hole. Owen Rogers was credited with the lone helper.

The Legionnaires kept pouring it on, with Cicchini getting his 23^rd of the season with under 12 minutes left. It was a pretty goal in which the captain redirected a pinpoint pass from Drydak. Zupancic picked up his second helper of the night on the play.

Coy Kulich rounded out the scoring with a powerplay goal for Lambton Shores late in the game.

• Jesse Raymond was steady in net for the winners, kicking out 24 of 26 shots. Parker blocked 39 of 45 pucks sent his way.

• Ferguson played a strong game, leading a couple of end-to-end rushes and racing back on one occasion to foil a Predators breakaway.

• Brent Sauve nicked the post with a second period shot.

• Attendance was 340.

• Steeves was first star, Cicchini second and Kulich third.