Sting Keep Rolling

By DAVE BORODY
The Sarnia Sting continues to be one of the hottest teams in the Ontario Hockey League.
Sting head coach Jacques Beaulieu called it one of their best all-around performances of the season as his team skated to a 4-2 win over the Guelph Storm, Friday night in front of 2,866 fans at the RBC Centre.
The Sting has accumulated 15 out of a possible 16 points in their last eight games to improve to 19-11-0-3. Their only blemish over the past eight games was a shootout loss to Windsor.
“I liked the way we played tonight,” said Beaulieu. “I thought we played a solid 60 minutes. Right from the drop of the puck we were ready to go. We didn’t allow Guelph a shot in the opening 10 minutes of the game. The kids battled and I’m really happy with the effort.”
He added, “We practiced well this week and the way we practiced carried over into the game.”
Sarnia went above the .500 mark at home for the first time this season at 8-7-0-2.
Beaulieu knew they were up against a tough team, who actually has more points than the Sting this year.
“They are a very good team. We talked about that before the game. We knew they were going to pressure us. Our special teams were good as we scored a pair of power play goals and that made the difference.”
The big line provided the offence for the Sting. Charlie Sarault had a goal and three assists, captain Alex Galchenyuk had two goals and one assist while Reid Boucher notched a goal and an assist.
It marked the fifth time this season Sarault has had at least four points in a game.
“That line is very good. We know that,” said Beaulieu. “But I was happy with our secondary lines. Even the fourth line, (Jordan) Addesi’s line showed some jump and weren’t scored on. You can see the kids coming.”
Despite some glorious scoring opportunities early in the game, Sarnia did not get their first score until Boucher scored on a power play with 48.4 seconds remaining in the opening frame. It was his 23rd of the season.
Guelph tied the game with just 11 seconds left in the period when Rober Fabbri beat J.P. Anderson from close range.
The Sting took a 3-1 lead in the second period with a pair of unanswered goals. Galchenyuk scored at 2:13 with the Sting holding a two-man advantage as he ripped a wrist shot over the shoulder of goalie Garret Sparks.
Sarault scored what turned out to be the game-winner with 27 seconds left in the period. He had an open corner after a nice pass from Galchenyuk.
Galchenyuk completed the scoring at 8:49 of period three when he deflected home a point shot form Connor Murphy for his 23rd of the year. Sarault notched his third assist.
Guelph scored in the final minute on a two-man advantage with Matt Finn getting the goal.
Anderson was again solid in goal for Sarnia making 31 saves while Sparks stopped 23 for Guelph.  Anderson has allowed only nine goals in his last six games.
Sarnia finished two-for-five on the power play and Guelph one-for-six.
“It was a good game, we came out hard,” said Sarault, who now has 199 career OHL points. “We matched their energy early. We also capitalized on our special teams. We’ve been talking all week about getting off to a good start and I thought we responded.”
As for the big line pumping home nine points,” Sarault said, “Tonight our line was clicking. We were putting the puck in the net. The last couple of games we weren’t finishing that well, but we stepped it up tonight.”
The Sting will play their final game before the Christmas break Saturday night when they host the Kingston Frontenacs beginning at 7:05 p.m. at the RBC Centre. There will be a special ceremony to honour Kingston general manger and former NHL great, Doug Gilmour.
Tickets for the game can be obtained by going to the RBC Box Office, by calling 519-541-1717 or going online at Sarniasting.com
STING NOTES
–    Sarault was first star with Galchenyuk second star and Anthony DeAngelo third star. Daniel Nikrandrov was the Dickies hardest working player of the game.
–    The Sting wore their new third jerseys for the first time this season.
–    Sarnia announced earlier in the day they had traded overager Craig Hottot of Sombra to Mississauga for a third round pick in 2013 and a sixth rounder in 2015.
–    Boucher played in his 100th career game for the Sting.
–    Sarnia owns a 2-1 record against Guelph with one more meeting March 10th in Sarnia.

Dave Borody is a freelance writer who covers Sting games both home and away and also does features for the Sting Website.