Fischer Nets Hat-Trick To Lead Sarnia Past Sudbury 6-2
By Carl Chimenti
Lukas Fischer (St. Louis Blues) scored three goals and Zach Filak added a goal and three assists to pace the Sarnia Sting (16-20-2-5) to a 6-2 win over the Sudbury Wolves (22-14-5) before the second largest crowd of the season 4,427, Friday night at the Progressive Auto Sales Arena.
Fischer scored the first three Sting goals over the first two periods. The hat-trick was the first by a Sting player this season and the first since Mitch Young turned the trick back on March 15th, 2024, in a 6-5 overtime win against the Flint Firebirds at the Hive. Fischer scored goals number 6, 7 and 8 on the season and was named the first star.
Filak netted his 11th into an empty net at 14:35 to put the game out of reach and along with three assists, was selected as the second star. Liam Beamish had three assists and was the third star. Sarnia scored twice in each period and out-shot Sudbury 29-21. Matthew Manza, who was just recently signed, scored his first career OHL goal in his debut. Easton Wainwright had a goal, his 11th and an assist. Single assists came from Tyson Doucette, who returned back, for his first game, following a five game league suspension, along with Young, Ryan Brown and Alessandro Di lorio. Nick Surzycia had another outstanding game with 19 saves on 21 shots. Sarnia dominated in the face-off circle 45-19, with Beamish going 23/32, Beckham Edwards 8/10, Di lorio 7/10 and Carson Hall 4/6.
The Sting penalty kill was also a bright spot as they killed seven of eight. Sarnia went 2/7 on the power-play. Kieron Walton (Winnipeg Jets) and Nathan Villeneuve scored for Sudbury and Henry Mews (Calgary Flames) added a pair of assists. Fischer lit the lamp twice in the opening period and the Sting skated off with a 2-1 lead after the first twenty minutes. Filak set up the first Sting goal, streaking down the right side and sending a pass to Fischer and he beat Nate Krawchuk upstairs at 14:40. Sarnia’s second goal was the result of a nice feed from the half wall on the left side as Beamish was able to find Fischer and he scored in the last minute at 19:05.
The Wolves scored their lone goal in between Fischer’s two markers at 18:28, from Walton with Delic and Mews assisting. Sarnia out-shot Sudbury 11-4. The Wolves fell into penalty trouble in the second period giving the Sting a two man-advantage twice and Sarnia made them pay scoring a pair of power-play goals. Fischer scored his hat-trick goal at 8:37 on a one-timer set up by Doucette with Beamish also drawing the second assist. Sarnia notched a second 5 on 3 power-play goal moments later. Wainwright and Young combined on a give and go with Wainwright finishing it off with a one-timer at 12:58. Young and Filak assisted on the goal.
In a rare occurrence, Sarnia was better on the shot clock by an 11-4 margin, matching the first period totals. Sudbury was forced into a goaltending change due to an injury to starter Krawchuck, who finished with 16 saves on 20 shots. Finn Marshall replaced Krawchuck at 14:11 of the second period.