GAME REPORT: ERIE 4 | SAR 3 (OT)
The Sarnia Sting visited the Erie Otters on Sunday evening.
It was the rounding game of our busy three-game weekend. In front of a bunch of Debrincat-stitched Blackhawks sweaters at Erie Insurance Arena, the two sides went back-and-forth in a nail-biting affair.
Starting off tonight’s scoring, Otters forward Danial Singer got on the scoresheet first. Singer rushed in on Sting netminder Ethan Langevin and unleashed under the crossbar. 1-0.
Less than two minutes later, Sting forward Hugo Leufvenius responded. This goal came thanks to an unreal play from linemate Jacob Perreault. Looking nothing like the rookie that he is, Perreault dished a perfect behind-the-back reverse pass to Leufvenius. Leufvenius gladly accepted it before sniping past Otters goalie Daniel Murphy. Tie game.
Our top line of Leufvenius, Ryan McGregor, and Perreault has been lethal lately. Minutes after Leufvenius’s goal, it was McGregor’s turn to strike. Just a few seconds into a powerplay, McGregor lifted the puck over a stretched-out Murphy for his fifteenth tally of the year.
In the second, things quieted down. Otters captain Kyle Maksimovich scored the only goal, so we’ll move right to the third.
The final frame saw down-to-the-wire excitement.
Tied at 2-2 with time slowly creeping down, the game was up for grabs. It was Sting forward Franco Sproviero who made the first move. With the puck bouncing around in front of Murphy, Sproviero tossed in a perfectly-timed backhand. Sproviero’s fourteenth of the campaign gave us a 3-2 lead with eight minutes to play.
Though the momentum appeared to have turned, the Otters replied quickly.
Up a man on the powerplay, Erie tied the game at 3-3. Otters rookie defenceman Jamie Drysdale sent a rising shot on goal from inside the blueline. It found its way past Langevin. We were off to overtime.
In our third extra frame in three straight games, the Otters made the final strike. Maksimovich scored on a breakaway with less than a second to play. The final score was 4-3.
This afternoon’s official box score can be viewed here.
Langevin was solid between the pipes, casting aside thirty shots.
We’ll return to action on Wednesday in Sault Ste. Marie! Puck drop at GFL Memorial Gardens is scheduled for 7:07 PM.
NEXT HOME GAME: STING vs. 67’s
Friday, January 11 | 7:05 PM
Progressive Auto Sales Arena
#ThePassionReturns | Secure your seats here.
