North Bay Scores Three Late Goals In Third Period To Beat Sarnia 6-2
By Carl Chimenti
The North Bay Battalion scored three times with less than seven minutes to go in regulation to break open a close game and they went on to beat the Sarnia Sting 6-2, Thursday night, at the North Bay Memorial Gardens.
The Sting scored a fluke goal, when Own Van Steensel’s attempted clearing pass from his side of the net hit Lukas Fischer in the helmet and deflected into the net for a strange power-play goal to pull Sarnia to within one at 3-2, 6:41 into the third period. The Battalion proceeded to score at 14:28, 17:06 (empty net goal) and at 19:22 to wrap up the victory.
The loss was tough to take as the Sting fell four points back of the Flint Firebirds after they beat the Windsor Spitfires 5-4 tonight, in the race for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
Fischer had a goal (6th) and an assist. Easton Wainwright scored his 10th and is just two points shy of reaching his OHL career high in points, which he set last season with 34. Karsen Chartier was sharp throughout with 33 saves on 37 shots, opposite of Dom Divincentiis (Winnipeg Jets), who stopped 23 of 25 shots for the Battalion. Anthony Romani was the first star with 2 goals and 3 assists. Dalyn Wakely was the second star with 2 goals and 2 assists and former Sting Andrew LeBlanc scored once and was named the third star. Van Steensel, added a goal as part of a three-point night for the Battalion. North Bay out-shot Sarnia 39-25. The Sting scored the only power-play goal as they went one for four. The Sting were perfect on the penalty kill, stopping all four chances they faced shorthanded.
Sarnia got off to a slow start offensively as they managed just one shot in the opening period. North Bay scored twice and put 17 shots on net. Wakely put the Battalion up 1-0 early at 1:39 with Romani assisting. The second Battalion goal came at 10:50 from Van Steensel. Wakely and Romani assisted on the goal.
Sarnia’s goaltending was solid as Chartier turned away 15 shots and the Sting penalty killing unit was in fine form, killing off both of North Bay’s two minor penalties. Chartier continued his fine play with a number of good saves in the second period as the Battalion out-shot the Sting 15-10. The two teams traded goals as the Battalion scored first at 1:25 on a goal from Romani from Paul Christopoulos and Van Steensel. Sarnia got on the board at 4:49. Wainwright started the play by winning the face-off in the North Bay end and got the puck back to Fischer at the point. Fischer let go a shot that Divincentiis stopped, but Wainwright was right on the doorstep to finish the scoring play, scoring on the rebound. In the final minute of the middle stanza, Hughston Hurt and Liam Arnsby (Florida Panthers) engaged in a very spirited fight.