Kingston Beats Sarnia In Come From Behind 4-2 Win
By Carl Chimenti
The Kingston Frontenacs (28-12-5-2) scored four unanswered goals over the final two periods to snap the Sarnia Sting (18-21-3-6) season high six game unbeaten streak 4-2, Sunday afternoon on Hockey Day in the OHL, in front of a huge crowd of 4,291, at the Progressive Auto Sales Arena.
Sarnia scored twice in the opening period but that was the extent of their scoring for the rest of the contest as Kingston rallied, scoring three times in the second and an empty net goal from Tuomas Uronen (Vegas Golden Knights) at 19:12 of the third period. Lukas Fischer (St. Louis Blues) extended his point streak to six games (7-3-10) with his 12th of the year and he was selected as the third star for the Sting.
Fischer has been on quite a heater with points in nine of his past ten games (7-6-13). Beckham Edwards has also been on a hot streak scoring his 17th, which is tied for the team lead with Tyson Doucette. Edwards has points in four of his last five games (3-2-5). Ruslan Karimov, Alessandro Di lorio and Doucette had one assist each in the game. The Sting came close to scoring in the final minute hitting the goal post. Sarnia dominated in the face-off circle, 33-21. Filak led the way going 13/22, followed by Easton Wainwright 9/11, Carson Hall 5/11, Edwards 4/4 and Di lorio 2/6. Nick Surzycia stopped 23 of 26 shots and came up with his best late in the final period making a dazzling glove save off the stick of Jacob Battaglia (Calgary Flames).
Battaglia was the first star for Kingston with a goal and three points. Uronen and Gage Heyes had a goal and an assist. Heyes was the second star. Gavin Betts turned away 17 of 19 shots for Kingston. The Frontenacs out-shot the Sting 27-19. Both teams scored on the power-play, with Kingston going one for four and Sarnia one for three. The first period saw the Sting scoring twice, taking a 2-0 lead into the first intermission. Edwards scored the opening goal as he took a pass from an on rushing Karimov, who raced down the right side, before setting up Edwards at 3:31.
Fischer continued his torrid scoring with a power-play goal at 17:18. Di lorio from the half wall fed Fischer and his hard shot found the back of the net. Di lorio and Doucette assisted on the play. Kingston out-shot Sarnia 10-7. The Sting was one for two with the man-advantage, while holding the top OHL power-play scoreless in their only chance. A barrage of goals in the first 4:46 of the second period saw Kingston turn a 2-0 deficit into a 3-2 lead.
Heyes scored at 2:02 from Pieniniemi, followed by Guindon 93 seconds later, at 3:35, with Heyesand Battaglia assisting. Battaglia scored on the power-play at 4:46 from Pieniniemi and Uronen to wrap up the scoring in the middle frame. Filak came close to tying the game on a break-away but he was stopped. Not many shots by either team, as Sarnia was one better on the shot clock 8-7.