Moses, Karimov & Edwards Notch Three Points, As Sarnia Beats Erie 5-3
By Carl Chimenti
Daylen Moses and Ruslan Karimov scored twice as part of a three point game for both and Evan Maillet was a brick wall in net as the Sarnia Sting (15-20-2-5) beat the Erie Otters (19-14-3-1) 5-3, Saturday night, at the Erie Insurance Arena.
The Sting dug deep tonight coming off a home game on Friday night and despite a slow start in the first period, were able to weather the storm, coming up with a big two points. Moses and Karimov had two goals and an assist each to spark the offense and Ryan Brown scored an insurance goal with one second remaining into an empty net. Moses second goal and 6th of the season proved to be the game winning goal and he was selected as the first star. Karimov scored Sarnia’s first two goals with his 9th and 10th of the year. Beckham Edwards also had a big night with three assists and along with Karimov assisted on the game winner. Mitch Young had one assist. Maillet played his best game of the season with 35 saves, many in the high danger zone, on 38 shots, and was named as the third star. Moses scored what maybe the Sting goal of the year in the second period, getting a stick on a shot from an Erie player and pouncing on the puck, going in alone and finishing off in spectacular form with a move that completely had Erie goaltender Charlie Burns out of position, as Moses lit the lamp for a highlight short-handed goal.
Sam Alfano scored twice for the Otters and was the second star. Erie out-shot Sarnia 38-22 and both teams failed to convert with the man-advantage, as Sarnia went 0/3 and Erie 0/4.
The Sting will get some much needed rest with a very light schedule next week, with their only game at the Progressive Auto Sales Arena, next Friday night, against the Sudbury Wolves with puck drop scheduled at 7:05pm.
Maillet was sensational in the first period as he faced 19 shots and stopped all but one as Erie out-shot Sarnia 19-6. Despite all the shots the Sting did score first at 5:44. Karimov tapped home a loose puck in front with Moses and Edwards assisting.
Erie tied the game at 1-1 shortly after at 6:57 as Lucas Ambrosio scored from Alex Messier and Brett Hammond. Both teams went 0/3 on the power-play. Sarnia scored twice in the second period, which included the most spectacular goal of the season from Moses.
Sarnia went ahead 2-1 at 14:04 as Karimov scored his second of the game knocking home a rebound shot from Edwards, with Young drawing the second assist. Late in the period the Sting were assessed a five minute major and in the midst of trying to kill that off Moses blocked a shot with his stick at the Sarnia blue-line. He picked up on the block and broke in alone deking goaltender Burns way out of position and he deposited the puck into the net for Sarnia’s third short-handed goal of the season. The unassisted goal came at 17:33. Sarnia out-shot Erie 9-8.