The Sarnia Sting scored a late goal to make
it close, but in the end Erie held on to spoil Sarnia’s home opener, beating
the Sting 5-4, before 2914 fans at the Sarnia Sports and Entertainment
Centre.
Alex Renaud’s goal at 18:29 made it close and the Sting buzzed the net for
the equalizer but goaltender Devin Williams stood his ground as time ran
out.
Alex Black, Jakob Chychrun, and Daniel Nikandrov, scored a goal each for the
Sting and Jeff King had a pair of assists.
Sarnia goaltender Justin Fazio stopped 22 of
27 shots in the losing cause as Sarnia fell to 0-1 despite out shooting the
Otters 39-27.
For the Otters Kyle Maksimovich, Alex DeBrincat, Kyle Pettit, Jake Marchment
and Nick Betz, each had a goal and an assist.
Sarnia came out flying following the opening
face-off and managed to get a couple of quick shots on net in the early
going, but Erie managed to score the first goal of the season. Alex
DeBrincat, last year’s OHL rookie of the year, moved behind the net and was
able to score from the short side on his back hand at 3:35. Maksimovich and
Darren Raddysh drew the assists.
Sarnia tied the game less than three minutes later on a shorthanded effort
from Daniel Nikandrov. The Markham, Ontario native showed a burst of speed
down the right side and let go a shot that found the back of the net past
Williams. Jeff King had the only assist.
Less than a minute later Erie was back in front 2-1. Betz scored from al
scramble in front from Marchment and Pettit. Sarnia out shot Erie in the
first twenty minutes 11-6.
It took a while, but Sarnia
finally tied the game at 9:26 of the second period. Jakob Chychrun, let go a
shot from the point, with the Sting on the power play and goaltender
Williams misplayed the puck. Josh Jacobs and Jordan Kyrou had the assists.
Erie scored goals less than a minute apart to
go up 4-2 on a goal from Maksimovich at 17:27 and Pettit at 18:07. Erie had
the better of the shots in the period 12-9.
Marchment, scored what proved to be the difference maker on the power play
at 6:06 of the third period.
Williams was selected as the first star with 35 saves for the Otters. Jeff
King with two assists was named second star from Sarnia and the third star
went to Erie’s Betz, with a goal and an assist.
Sarnia swings back into action on Sunday afternoon (2:05 start) at home,
against the Kingston Frontenacs. Tickets can be bought at either the SSEC
Box Office or the Satelite office at Lambton Mall. or online at
www.sarniasting.com
