Surzycia Strong Effort Helps Sting Gain Valuable Point In 4-3 OT Loss To Rangers
By Carl Chimenti
Nick Surzycia came up with a MVP performance, as he helped the Sarnia Sting (19-27-5-7) gain a valuable point in the playoff race, despite a 4-3 overtime loss to the Kitchener Rangers (42-13-4-1) Friday night, at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium.
The Toronto, Ontario native stopped 33 of 37 shots, many of the tough variety, to keep his team in the game. For his effort he was named as the third star of the game. Lukas Fischer (ST. Louis Blues) scored his 15th, Dylan Luecke with his 4th and Ryan Brown lit the lamp with his 15th of the season for the Sting. Brown had an assist as well, for a two-point night. Easton Wainwright and Mitch Young contributed one assist each for the Sting. Sarnia came into the third period with a 3-1 lead but Kitchener battled back with two goals from Cameron Reid at 4:13 and Jack Pridham (Chicago Black Hawks) at 13:41 to send the game into overtime.
Christian Humphreys (Colorado Avalanche) scored at 1:17 of overtime for the game winner. Humphreys was the first star with two points. Luca Romano with one goal, was the second star for Kitchener. Jason Schaubel in net for the Rangers stopped 22 of 25 shots.
Sarnia finishes their season series against Kitchener with a record of 1-2-1-0, and will now face back-to-back games against the Guelph Storm, starting with a Sunday (March 2nd) afternoon tilt (puck drop at 2:05pm) at the Hive.
The Rangers were better on the shot clock 37-25. Both teams failed with the man-advantage, as Sarnia went 0/2 and Kitchener 0/3. The point puts the Sting one point ahead of the Owen Sound Attack, as the number eight seed in the Western Conference going into the last month.
A very evenly played first period as both teams scored once, had 9 shots each on goal and went 0/1 on the power-play. Sarnia opened up the scoring as Fischer moved in from the blue-line and his shot beat goaltender Schaubel over the blocker at 9:23. Wainwright drew the lone assist.
Kitchener evened the game at 1-1 at 17:44, on a goal from Luca Romano with Haeden Ellis and Cameron Arquette assisting. Goaltending was outstanding at both ends with Surzycia coming up with several great saves for the Sting.
A strong second period for the Sting as they scored twice to take a 3-1 lead into the second intermission. Luecke from the door step, put home a rebound at 6:56, with assists credited to Brown and Young. Brown scored an unassisted goal from long range that goaltender Schaubel wishes he could have back. The goal came at 12:26. From there Surzycia shut the door with some incredible saves, especially in the final few minutes. Kitchener did out-shoot Sarnia with a late surge of shots 11-9.
