By DAVE BORODY
SAGINAW, Mich. –
For the second time this season the Sarnia Sting lost an overtime game against
the Saginaw Spirit at the Dow Event Centre.
This time it was a 5-4 decision in front of 2,895 fans Saturday
night.
Dylan Sadowy scored the winning goal for the Spirit at 2:57 when he
knocked in his own rebound from close range after Sting netminder Taylor Dupuis
had made two saves.
The loss, Sarnia’s third straight, was frustrating in the fact the
Sting battled back from a two-goal deficit in the third period to force extra
time.
The loss leaves the Sting with an 18-15-2-2 record in the Ontario
Hockey League.
Sting head coach Trevor Letowski gave his assessment of the game.
“I really liked our first period. We were well prepared and easily
could have been up two or three goals. We laid back a bit in the second period
and they got the lead. In the third I was really happy as even when we got
behind by two goals, we came up with a gutsy effort to tie it up and take it to
overtime. Unfortunately we didn’t win, but got a valuable point.”
The Sting welcomed defenceman Anthony DeAngelo back in the lineup
after spending the past three weeks with the United States team at the world
junior championships.
“Having Anthony back was big. He didn’t have to come since the USA
lost out on Friday afternoon. But he was up at 4 a.m. Saturday for a 6 a.m.
flight to New York and then another flight to Detroit. He made a huge difference
and made both plays for our third and fourth goals.”
He added, “I’m really happy he did that for us, especially after a
tough loss to Russia. It shows he cares about his team-mates.”
DeAngelo said he enjoyed the experience at the world juniors.
“It’s something I won’t forget for a long time,” said DeAngelo.
“I’m disappointed with the results. The hockey is so much different. All the
teams play a different style and you had to adjust every game.”
The Sting came out and had another strong first period. They
outshot Saginaw 19-10 at held a 2-1 lead.
Sarnia opened the
scoring when Noah Bushnell knocked in a rebound off an Alex Black point drive.
Jake O’Donnell also assisted on Bushnell’s fourth goal of the year.
Saginaw tied the
game at 9:21 when Jesse Barwell’s pass from behind the goal went off of Dupuis’
pads and into the net.
But the Sting regained the lead at 14:55 on a nice individual
effort by Jordan Kyrou flipping a backhand over goalie Jake Patterson. Vladislav
Kodola drew the lone assist on Kyrou’s fifth goal.
Saginaw scored a
pair of goals in the second period to take a 3-2 lead after 40 minutes. Tye
Felhaber wristed home a high drive at 5:27 while Devon Pallani scored on a
breakaway at 16:35.
Saginaw extended
their lead to 4-2 just 12 seconds into period three when Connor Brown knocked in
a loose puck.
But the Sting battled back with a pair of goals to even the game at
4-4.
Bushnell scored his second of the game at 3:43 converting a pass
out from DeAngelo while Troy Lajeunesse tied the game at 7:39 finishing off a
nice pass from DeAngelo. It was his ninth goal of the year.
That was it for the scoring until the overtime winner.
Sarnia finished
with a 40-32 edge in shots on goal. It was the second straight game Sarnia has
had 40 or more shots in a game and lost.
The Sting had only two power plays and Saginaw just one. No team
scored with the man advantage.
Beginning on Thursday the Sting will see themselves play 11 games
in 24 days, including six on the road.
The stretch does begin at home Thursday when they host Connor
McDavid at the Erie Otters at 7:05 p.m. at the RBC Centre. Friday night the
Sting travel to Owen Sound to battle the Attack while they return home Saturday
to host the Guelph Storm at 7:05 p.m.
Tickets for all remaining home games for the Sting are on sale
daily at the RBC Box Office, by calling 519-541-1717 or going online at
SarniaSting.com
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Sadowy was first star with Felhaber second star and Bushnell third
star.
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Sarnia is now 8-9-2-0 on the road.
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Regulars not dressed for the Sting were Josh Chapman, Jeff King,
Pavel Zacha, Patrick White, Connor Schlichting and Nikita Korostelev.
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The OHL trade deadline is Friday at noon.
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Sarnia is 4-1-2 against Saginaw this year. They play one more time.