Saginaw Scores In Final Seconds of Overtime To Beat Sarnia 2-1
By Carl Chimenti .
Alex Christopoulos scored twice including the game winner with three seconds left incovertime and the Saginaw Spirit escaped with a 2-1 win before 3,800, Friday night, at the Progressive Auto Sales Arena.
Christopoulos tied the game at 2:25 of the third period before netting the winner with the Spirit on the power-play at 4:57 in the extra frame. The overtime marker went under review for goaltending interference, but after a rather lengthy review the goal was allowed to stand. Sting goaltender Nick Surzycia was simply outstanding stopping 31 of 33 shots and for his best effort of this season was rewarded by being named the first star of the game. Christopoulos who scored his 11th and 12th goals, was selected as the second star. Braden Hache (Florida Panthers) was the third star.
Sarnia scored their only goal in the first period and made it stand for two full periods with a terrific defensive effort led by Surzycia. Jacob LeBlanc (7th) scored the lone goal at 7:18 from Marko Sikic and Sean Doherty. The Sting could only muster six shots on net in the final two periods as they were out-shot 33-19. Saginaw went 1/5 and Sarnia 0/3 with the man-advantage.
The Sting will now travel to Flint for a Saturday night tilt at the Dort Financial Center in the final game before the holiday break.
Sarnia scored the lone goal and after the first twenty minutes led 1-0. The puck came out to Schwindt and he was parked to the side of the net, but he fanned on the shot and the puck was loose for a brief moment and Jacob LeBlanc was able to get to the puck and his shot found paydirt for his seventh goal of the season. Sikic and Doherty assisted on the scoring play. Surzycia was strong in net stopping all eight shots he faced, including a couple of high danger zone shots. Sarnia out-shot Saginaw 12-8. The Sting had a couple of power-play chances but could not convert. Surzycia continued his sharp play in the second period stopping all 11 shots as the Spirit out-shot the Sting 11-3, which included two excellent stops. The first coming seven minutes in as he robbed Michael Misa point blank from in front. The second was on a partial break-away as he was able to stone Calem Mangone just a couple of minutes later. The Sting went 0/1 and the Spirit 0/3 with the man-advantage.
