Peterborough Beats Sarnia 5-2, on Battle of the Badges Night

The Peterborough Petes (25-17-1-2) scored three times in the opening period and it was enough as they went on to beat the Sarnia Sting (13-26-5-1) 5-2, at the Progressive Auto Sales Arena. It was the first-ever Battle of the Badges showdown, which brought out a full house at the Hive of 4,368 and raised a total of $3,380.00 for the Huron House Boys Home.

Sarnia entered the third period down by a pair of goals, but could not beat Petes goaltender Easton Rye, who nabbed the second star after stopping 26 of 28 shots. Adam Novotny, Kieron Walton (Winnipeg Jets), and Aiden Young (empty net goal) each contributed a goal and an assist. Novotny was named the first star. Braydon McCallum had three helpers and Calum Hartnell two for the Petes.

Easton Walos scored his team-leading 18th goal for the Sting and was the third star. Tyler Challenger scored his second goal in a Sting uniform, and third goal overall, since being acquired in a trade from the Erie Otters in late November. Jordan Bax and Liam Beamish had one assist each. Patrick Quinlan turned aside 26 of 30 shots in net for Sarnia.

The Petes out-shot the Sting 31-28. Peterborough went 1/6 and Sarnia 0/5 with the man advantage.

The first period was an offensive explosion, as the two teams combined to score five goals and a 3-2 lead in favor of the Petes after the first twenty minutes of play. The Sting got off to a quick start as Walos scored early at 1:52, with the only assist being credited to Bax.

Peterborough countered with three straight goals. Matthew Soto tied the game at 3:36 from McCallum and Hartnell. The Petes went in front on a goal from Novotny at 8:14 with Walton and McCallum assisting. Yanis Lutz extended the lead to 3-1 from Young and Hartnell at 15:23.

The Sting countered as Beamish set up Challenger, who was parked at the side of the net, with a short pass, and Challenger put a one-timer past Rye to close out the scoring. Peterborough out-shot Sarnia 12-7.

Walton scored the only goal in the second stanza, late at 16:42, from Leon Kolarik with the primary assist and Novotny, with the Petes on the power play for a 4-2 lead after completing two periods of play. Peterborough once again out-shot the Sting 15-9.