London Snaps Sarnia’s Three Game Win Streak, Beating Sting 6-1
By Carl Chimenti
The London Knights (27-6-0-0) scored two goals in each period and they beat the Sarnia Sting (11-18-2-5) 6-1, snapping their three game win streak, Friday night, at the Canada Life Place.
Nick Surzycia did all he could, playing a sensational game, as he stopped 30 of 36 shots, many of those from in close. Ryan Brown continued his hot scoring, netting the only goal for the Sting, while extending his point streak to seven games (6-5-11). Zach Filak pushed his point streak to three games (1-2-3), with an assist and Liam Beamish with an assist, stretched his current point streak to five games (5-4-9).
Sam O’Reilly (Edmonton Oilers) and Blake Montgomery (Ottawa Senators) had a goal and two assists each. Montgomery was the first star for the Knights. Logan Hawery and Denver Barkey (Philadelphia Flyers) scored a pair of goals each. Barkey was selected as the second star and Hawery was named the third star. Henry Brzustewicz and newly acquired Cam Allen (Washington Capitals) chipped in with two assists each. For Allen it was his second straight game with multiple points for the Knights since he was acquired in a trade from the Guelph Storm.
Knights goaltender Austin Elliott picked up his 14th win, running his current record to a perfect 14-0, since joining London. The Knights out-shot the Sting 36-27. London went 2/7 on the power-play and Sarnia 0/6. An evenly played first period saw the Knights grab a 2-1 lead after twenty minutes.
O’Reilly opened the scoring for London at 3:32 from Allen and goaltender Elliott. O’Reilly rang one of the goal post near the mid-way point and Sarnia came right back and scored shortly after at 10:42. Brown picked up the puck up off the half boards and found a lane to the net and he blistered a shot over the shoulder of Elliott and into the back of the net with the Sting on the power-play. Filak and Beamish assisted on the goal to tie the game at 1-1.
A second London goal which was a power-play marker, came near the end of the period at 18:56, from Montgomery. The play went under review for goalie interference and it took a lengthy review, but the goal was allowed to stand. The assists went to O’Reilly and Brzustewicz. London out-shot Sarnia 9-6. Surzycia was the story line of the second stanza, as he was under siege through-out the period, making 12 saves on 14 shots, most from the high danger zones.
London scored twice and Surzycia could not be faulted on either goal as he kept the game close despite the Knights 4-1 lead. Barkey scored early at 1:33 from both Montgomery and Allen. London scored again at 2:49, as Hawery lit the lamp from Evan Van Gorp. The Knights were better on the shot clock 14-7.
