Sting fall in OT
Despite being out played for most of the game, the Flint Firebirds, making their initial appearance at the Sarnia Sports and Entertainment Centre, beat the Sarnia Sting 3-2 in overtime.
Ryan Moore’s goal at 1:11 of the extra frame was the winner as the Firebirds won in overtime on Friday night.
Nikita Korostelev scored his 5th and Troy Lajeunesse with his team leading 9th scored for Sarnia. Will Bitten, Francesco Vilardi and Moore, scored for the Firebirds. Josh Wesley contributed a pair of assists.
Both goaltenders played great and kept their respective teams in the game. Alex Nedeljkovic, was a busybody, stopping 39 shots for the Firebirds. Justin Fazio turned aside 20 of 23 shots. Sarnia out shot Flint by a wide margin of 41-23.
After a slow start in the first period, probably due to a mid- week game against the Owen Sound Attack, the Sting came on and controlled the territorial edge as well as the shots were 13-9 in the opening frame.
The slow start created an early penalty shot opportunity for Will Bitten, who was a thorn in the side for Sarnia in their first meeting with a hat trick. He has scored four goals in the two meetings between the clubs. Actually, the penalty shot was the second awarded to Bitten against Sarnia this season. In their first meeting Bitten’s third goal was a penalty shot marker during the overtime period in Flint.
Sarnia began to take control shortly after and got the equalizer at 13:42. Korostelev, won the battle along the boards and from the slot let go a wrist shot that beat Nedeljkovic on the far side. Pavel Zacha drew the only assist.
Although the second period was scoreless, Sarnia dominated as once again with the rink tilted in their favor in the Flint end. The Sting also dominated in the shots on goal category with a 15-4 edge.
Sarnia had a 2-1 lead, on an early third period goal from Lajeunesse, which stood for most of the period until Vilardi scored with less than six minutes to go to tie the game. The goal was awarded to the Firebirds after a long delay on a review on the call.
STING NOTES. The three stars in order from first to third were awarded to Nedeljkovic, Lajeunesse and Korostelev. Flint scored the only power play in the game on five chances. Sarnia was 0 for 4. Sarnia’s record goes to 9-5-2 and they are fifth overall in the Western Conference. The Sting are in second place in the competitive West Division, three points back of the first place Windsor Spitfires. Sarnia swings back into action as they complete their mini two game home stand Sunday night (Puck Drop 7:05 pm) against the Saginaw spirit.
