Sarnia’s Playoff Push Falls Just Short As Soo Win 5-2
By Carl Chimenti
The Sarnia Sting (22-33-6-7) put up a valiant effort in their regular season finale, but the Soo Greyhounds (29-35-2-2) found a way and they came up with a 5-2 win, Sunday afternoon, at the GFL Memorial Gardens.
Sarnia was the better team through-out most of this game and all the stats were in their favor. The Sting out-shot the Greyhounds 44-25, were better in the face-off circle 38-28, had the best scoring chances and held the territorial edge as well. But in the third period with the game still very much in the balance the Greyhounds got the big call and the bounces on their next two goals.
Sarnia appeared to score just before the four-minute mark. Following a mad scramble in front, the puck went into the net, but the play was waved off immediately. After a short review the goal was disallowed due to the fact that the whistle had blown before the puck crossed the goal line. Shortly after Travis Hayes scored at 5:37, in what proved to be the winning goal and Brady R. Smith scored the insurance goal at 9:19. Sarnia pulled Maillet with less than seven minutes to play and Justin Cloutier scored into an empty net at 14:48.
Sarnia showed no quit, and after another wild scramble in front both Alessandro Di lorio and Zach Filak were robbed. Moments later Daylen Moses was stopped on a great save from Landon Miller (Detroit Red Wings) after he went in alone on a partial break-away. Miller finished with 42 saves and was the third star.
Filak scored the final goal in his last OHL contest at 18:34 to wrap up the scoring from Lukas Fischer (St. Louis Blues) and Beckham Edwards on the power-play. It was Filak’s 14th goal. He also had an assist for a two-point game. James Barr scored his second of the season to open up the scoring in the first period. Filak and Beamish drew the helpers. In net Evan Maillet showed why the Sting net was very bright moving towards next season, despite the loss of overager Nick Surzycia. Maillet stopped 20 of 24 shots, with many of those from the high danger zone.
For the Greyhounds, Hayes had a goal and two assists and was the first star. Carson Andrew had a pair of assists and was the second star. Marco Mignosa also was credited with two helpers. Cloutier and Brady R. Smith had a goal and an assist. Both teams went 1/5 with the man-advantage. Sarnia’s Mitch Young hit a milestone playing in his 150th career OHL game.
Sarnia controlled the play in the first period, holding the territorial edge, out-shooting the Soo 10-7, and scoring the first goal of the game. Barr scored at 3:21 on a shot that hit goaltender Miller in the back. Filak and Beamish assisted on the scoring play. The Grey-hounds tied the game shortly after at 4:33 on a goal from Noah Nordh (Utah Hockey Club) with Andrew and Cloutier assisting. The Soo scored the only goal in the second period, although Sarnia was the better team, as they had a number of good scoring chances, but Miller was up to the task, stopping all ten shots he faced.
The Greyhounds put nine shots on net and scored early at the 49 second mark on a power-play goal from Brodie McConnell-Barker from Andrew and Hayes. The Sting had three power-play opportunities and although they controlled the puck and the play, they could not convert on Miller.
