Sarnia scores three power-play goals en-route to first home win 6-2 over the Soo

By Carl Chimenti

Deuces were wild for the Sarnia Sting, as they scored a pair of goals in each period, winning for the first time on home ice, beating the Soo Greyhounds 6-2. It was the third win in four games and the best team start since the 2018-19 campaign.

Ty Voit (Toronto Maple Leafs), sparked the charge with a four-point game, (one of three players with four points for Sarnia), that included two goals and two assists. The Pittsburgh, PA. native, has been on a heater since the start of the OHL season with five goals and ten points in the Sting’s first four games and is the team’s early scoring leader. For his effort this afternoon, Voit was named first star.

In fact, Sarnia swept the three-star selection with a pair of players, also registering a four-point game. Marcus Limpar-Lantz, had a goal and three assists. It was the second time he has posted three or more points this season, after scoring a goal and two assists, in the opening game win against the Kitchener Rangers. The Sollentuna, Sweden native, was chosen as the second star.

Sandis Vilmanis (Florida Panthers), had an afternoon to remember, that featured his first career point in the first period, followed by his first OHL goal in the second period, with both points coming on the power-play. The native of Riga, Latvia, added two more assists for his first four-point game and was selected as the third star.

It was a first period of first for the Sting. Sarnia scored it’s first goal on the power-play this season and Vilmanis registered his first OHL point, on an assist. Voit’s goal, made it 2-0 and the man-advantage marker, managed to break an 0/12 streak this season. Limpar-Lantz garnered his second assist of the period which came at 15:57.

In the middle frame the Soo got on the scoreboard, following a four on three power-play goal from Matthew Virgilio, from Andrew Gibson and Jordan D’Intino, at 8:26, to slice the Sarnia lead in half.

But the Sting responded with a pair of power-play goals from Limpar-Lantz, who tallied from the slot after receiving a pass from Voit and some good work from Ryan Mast (Boston Bruins) at 16:46. The Sting power-play unit remained hot and was rewarded with a second goal late from Vilmanis, two minutes later and third power-play goal after 40 minutes.

The second period also saw Sarnia starting goaltender Ben Gaudreau leave the game, after he absorbed a shoulder hit to the head from Soo forward Tyler Savard, who was given a Misconduct penalty and was ejected from the game at 14:03.

Sarnia, added two more goals in the final period as Marko Sikic scored his first of the season at 1:33, from Vilmanis. Voit scored his second goal at 10:32 from Zach Filak and Vilmanis. Marco Mignosa, scored late in the third period for the Greyhounds, to wrap up the scoring.

Sarnia out-shot the Soo 36-29 and won in the face-off column 37-27.

The Sting went 3/7 overall with the man-advantage, holding the Soo to one goal on seven chances.

Sting goaltender, Nicholas Surzycia, came in relief for Gaudreau and played 25:57 and was almost perfect, stopping all but one of the Greyhounds 18 shots, directed towards him.