Sarnia Dominates 10-3 for First Win in Ottawa Since 2007
Written by Carl Chimenti
It was raining goals Sunday afternoon at TD Place as the Sarnia Sting (3-1) exploded for ten goals, six in the third period, as they pounded the Ottawa 67’s (1-1-1) 10-3 to finish off the first road trip in a successful manner, winning three of four games, and will now come home for their home opener at the newly remodelled Progressive Auto Sales Arena this Friday night for an early first-place battle against the (3-1) Soo Greyhounds, in their second meeting of the young season.
Today’s game was close entering the third period with the Sting nursing a two-goal lead. Jaiden Newton then laid out a heavy and dangerous hit on Brenner Lammens, which cost the 67’s a five-minute major, and Newton a game misconduct. The floodgates opened from there, and Ottawa never recovered.
Jack Van Volsen, who was selected as the first star, scored a power-play goal and his second tally of the game at 3:24. It was the beginning of six straight goals in the final stanza to break the game wide open, and the Sting coasted from there.
Adrian Sgro, the third star, scored his first career OHL goal at 3:51. Defenceman Dracen Campbell, who was the second star, had a huge game, scoring his first career OHL goal at 8:52, as part of a four-point effort, and was a plus-4.
Captain Alessandro Di Iorio (Columbus Blue Jackets) followed up with his second goal of the game at 9:42, as part of a four-point day. Di Iorio has been on a heater since returning from NHL training camp with six points in three games.
Simon Katolicky (Calgary Flames) scored his second goal of the season at 16:24, and Tyler Challenger put a bow on the Sting scoring, finishing off a two-point game, with his second of the season at 17:13. Filip Ekberg (Carolina Hurricanes) wrapped up the scoring with his third goal of the game at 19:28.
Lammens, who was not hurt after absorbing the hit from Newton, netted his third of the season, and Cameron Aucoin added a goal (2nd) and an assist. Parker Holmes (Chicago Blackhawks) had a pair of helpers. Easton Walos and Logan Hawery contributed with one assist each.
Sting goaltender Ivan Tkach-Tkachenko (Utah Mammoth) was very sharp, as he turned away 24 of 27 shots. Sarnia out-shot Ottawa 39-27. On the power play, the Sting went 1/6, the 67’s – 0/3.
Sarnia wasted little time to open up the scoring, just 29 seconds into the first period. Cameron Aucoin came up with the puck off the face-off in the Ottawa end, and his shot beat Nelson from just inside the post. Walos, who won the draw to Aucoin, drew the only helper.
Ottawa tied the game on a goal from Ekberg at the 4-minute mark after being set up by Spencer Bowes (New York Rangers) with the primary assist. Connor Bewick was credited with the second assist.
The Sting came right back 31 seconds later, at 4:31, to re-claim the lead. Van Volsen put Sarnia up 2-1 as he knocked home his own rebound.
Moments later, Ekberg appeared to tie the game. Credit the coaching staff with sharp vision, as they challenged the goal for a possible offside. It took a bit, but after a long delay, the goal was disallowed.
With momentum on their side, the Sting scored again for a 3-1 lead at 12:04. Lammens received a pass along the left boards, and his shot deflected off an Ottawa player into the net. Both Hawery and Di Iorio were credited with the assists.
Later in the period, Nic Whitehead broke in alone, but Tkachenko came up with a nice stick and managed to poke the puck away before Whitehead could get off a shot. Sarnia out-shot Ottawa 16-11.
The second period was more of a defensive struggle as both teams scored once, with Sarnia controlling the shot clock 8-6. Ottawa scored early as Ekberg tallied his second goal of the game, as he blistered a shot past Tkachenko high on the glove side. The goal came at 5:51 from Bowes and Whitehead.
Sarnia scored late in the final minute for what proved to be the winning goal, which came at 19:16. Di Iorio took advantage of a neutral-zone turnover and raced down on a two-on-one as he fired a hard wrist shot past Nelson on his glove side. Van Volsen drew the only assist.
