The Sarnia Sting took a disappointing 5-4 loss in their home opener in Ontario hockey league action against the Oshawa Generals.

 

"It's hard to swallow, the guys played hard." Sting head coach Trevor Letowski said after the game.

 

Sting Captain Craig Duinink scored his first goal of the season and the first of the game at 4:46  assisted by Vladislav Kodola and Nikolay Goldobin. 

 

"I saw an opening and skated pass my guy and we have some great playmakers on this team so all I had to do is tap it in. I give all the credit to Kodola ." Duinink said

 

 

With the Sting on a power play Brian Hughes intercepted a pass and skated in to score a short handed goal at 9:23.  Nikolay Goldobin put the Sting ahead scoring the Sting's second goal at 14:05 with Vladislav Kodola and Brett Hargrave assisting. Period ended with Sarnia leading 2 -1.

 

 

In the second period the Sting had many opportunities to score but their power play line didn't capitalize and the only goal scored in the period came at 19:56 on the power play scored by Oshawa. Michael Dal Colle scored the power play goal to even the score at 2 each heading into the third.

 

"We gave up the game in the second period. We should have closed them out there with all that power play time. Our power play was very disappointing we had nine chances after two periods and nothing to show for it." Letowski said

 

 

 

The Sting regained the lead just over the midway point in the third with Daniel Nikandrov scoring assisted by Joshua Chapman and Anthony DeAngelo.  Disappointing to the fans as the announcement was being made of the Sting goal, Oshawa's Bradley Latour slid in a soft goal from the side to even the score.  At 15:31 Oshawa took the lead for the first time in the game with Michael Dal Colle scoring his second of the night.

 

The Sting continued to fight back and with their goalie pulled scored the tying goal with :37 seconds remaining.  As the clock was winding down and it looked like the game was going into over time Oshawa disappointed the fans by scoring the winning goal with just :12 seconds left on the clock.  Hunter Smith scored the winning goal for the Generals unassisted.

 

Sarnia missed out on a ten power play opportunities in total.  Oshawa scored one on six power play opportunities.

 

"It (penalties) takes the flow out and some guys on the bench don't get enough and we want to try and roll them over as much as possible." Letowski said

 

The Sting outshot the Generals 31/30.  Netminder Daniel Altshuller earned the win for the Generals with 27 saves.  Brodie Barrick took the loss with 25 saves.

 

 

This was the only appearance that Oshawa makes in Sarnia, the two teams will meet again in January in Oshawa.

 

"It's one of those games we developed a rivalry between an eastern conference team which is pretty rare.  We don't like them at all  and next time we play them in their building we are going to remember that." Duinink said

 

Next up the Sting travel to Windsor on Thursday September 26 then back at home on Friday September 27 when they host the Erie Otters.  Game time at 7:05 at the RBC Center.

 

"We have a long week that's nice, we are going to address (the power play) this week." Letowski said.

 

---