Sarnia Rallies For A Thrilling 4-3 Shoot-out Win Over The Firebirds
By Carl Chimenti
The Sarnia Sting evened their exhibition record at 1-1, with an exciting 4-3 shoot-out win over the Flint Firebirds in front of a loud crowd of 2,972 at the Progressive Auto Sales Arena.
Entering the third period facing a two-goal deficit, the Sting pulled to within one goal as Alessandro Di lorio scored his second goal in as many games and second of the pre-season from Tyson Doucette and Casey Bridgewater. The Firebirds were assessed a late minor penalty and the Sting made them pay as Ryan Brown put in a rebound to tie the game at 18:24 on the power-play, with assists from JJ Franceschetti and Jack Bodin.
It was Bodin second helper in two games while Franceschetti notched his second point of the pre-season after scoring his first goal in last nights game against the Windsor Spitfires. The game went to a shoot-out, by passing an overtime period and went nine frames before Doucette scored the winner in the tenth frame. Evan Maillett went the distance in net for the Sting turning aside 19 of 22 shots. Sarnia out-shot Flint 33-22.
The Sting scored two power-play goals for the second game in a row, going 2/6. The two teams came out in the first period with a fast pace and a physical one, with lots of hard hitting. Connor Clattenburg opened the scoring for Flint as he scored on a two on one early on at 1:19. Brendan Cooke and Matthew Mania assisted on the goal. Christopher Thibodeau made it 2-0 with the first of two goals scoring on a rebound at 11:34, with both Nolan Collins and Matthew Mania drawing the helpers. Sarnia sliced the lead in half with a power-play goal at 17:34.
Beckham Edwards scored his first of the pre-season letting go a wrist shot from the high slot. It was the third man-advantage goal for the Sting in two exhibition games. Mitch Young was credited with the lone assist, his second of the pre-season. The Firebirds closed out the opening frame with a late goal as Thibodeau scored his second of the game with 33 seconds remaining. Matthew Wang assisted on the scoring play. Both teams went 1/1 on the power-play. Sarnia out shot Flint 15-11. The hitting and rough play continued in a scoreless second period with Flint out-shooting Sarnia by a slim 7-6 margin.
