Sarnia Snaps Losing Skid, Beat Ottawa 5-4 In Shoot-Out
By Carl Chimenti
The third largest crowd of the season 3,921, saw a very entertaining game, as the Sarnia Sting (8-12-1-3) broke a six game losing streak, beating the Ottawa 67’s (8-7-2-3) 5-4, in a shoot-out on a Friday Country night, at the Progressive Auto Sales Arena.
Sarnia led 3-0 and 4-3 before Ottawa scored the lone goal in the third period by Cooper Foster (Pittsburgh Penguins) to send the game into overtime. The 67’s out-shot the Sting 5-3, but neither team could score in the extra frame, although Kaeden Johnston came close to ending it, when his shot rang off the far post, sending the contest to the shoot-out.
After both teams failed to score on their first shot, Alessandro Di lorio came down and beat Nelson on the glove side and Easton Wainwright followed by slipping the puck past Nelson and the celebration was on by the Sting nation.
Di lorio, who had a goal, his fourth, and three points in regulation, was selected as the first star. Sting goaltender Nick Surzycia put up a fantastic performance in net, as he stopped 42 of a season high 46 shots and was named the second star. Tyson Doucette had a goal and an assist for Sarnia. The goal was his ninth of the season, as he tied Beckham Edwards for the team lead. Ruslan Karimov scored his fourth and Zach Filak his eighth. Carter Kostuch and Hughston Hurt contributed in the scoring parade with an assist each. The Sting dominated in the face-off circle 44-30.
Henry Mews (Calgary Flames) and Luca Pinelli (Columbus Blue Jackets) had a goal and an assist each for Ottawa. Mews was chosen as the third star. Filip Ekberg had a pair of assists. The 67’s goaltender Jaeden Nelson had 23 saves as Ottawa out-shot Sarnia 46-27. On the power-play Ottawa went 3/4 and Sarnia 1/3.
Sarnia struck for three straight goals to open up the first period before Ottawa scored on the power-play late in the period. Di lorio set up the first goal, winning the draw back to Doucette and he found the back of the net at 6:04. The Sting made it 2-0, 32 seconds later, as Kostuch fed Di lorio in front and he scored at 6:36. Kostuch and Hurt were both credited with the assists. At 9:05 Ruslan Karimov banked the puck from behind the net, off of goaltender Nelson’s back end, that went into the net unassisted.
Mews scored on the power-play to put the 67’s on the board from Ekberg and Pinelli at 17:32. Surzycia made two excellent saves on Will Gerrior to do his part. Ottawa out-shot Sarnia 9-7. Sarnia scored a late five on three power-play goal on a major penalty, in the second period. The goal was huge because Ottawa had lit the lamp twice prior to that. The Sting goal put them in front 4-3 after forty minutes of play. Pinelli scored with the man-advantage at 12:58 from Brady Stonehouse (Edmonton Oilers). Caden Kelly tied the game with an unassisted even strength goal at 15:44. In the final five minutes, the 67’s were assessed a five minute major penalty and Sarnia made them pay.
A three way passing play started with Di lorio passing to Doucette and he let go a one-timer that Filak was able to deflect past Nelson. The power-play, go-ahead, goal came at 17:56 with Doucette and Di lorio assisting. Ottawa out-shot Sarnia 14-12.
