Sunday Highlights: Sting stay on top
Sunday February 28, 2016
The Windsor Spitfires haven’t done much losing of late, which means the Sarnia Sting have to remain at the top of their game if they want to retain first place status in what’s increasingly become a wild West Division playoff chase.
The Sting struck for five goals as Patrick White found the back of the net twice in their fourth straight victory, a 5-2 triumph over the visiting Guelph Storm on Sunday.
Anthony Salinitri and Matt Mistele each registered a goal and an assist as the Sting improved to 36-17-5-2 with 79 points, one ahead of the second place Spitfires.
The Sarnia win came in one of six games around the league on Sunday.
SARNIA 5 GUELPH 2 – The Sarnia Sting stayed on top in the West Division, finishing off a perfect 3-0 weekend as Patrick White scored twice in a 5-2 win over the Guelph Storm. Sarnia’s fourth straight win featured a goal and an assist from both Anthony Salinitri and Matt Mistele while Justin Fazio made 30 saves in goal. Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Nikita Korostelev also got on the scoresheet while draft eligible blueliner Jakob Chychrun recorded an assist in a third straight game. James McEwan and Jake Bricknell scored for Guelph as the Storm were outshot 54-32. Storm goaltender Bradley Van Schubert earned third star recognition with 49 saves on the afternoon. The Sting hold a one point lead in the West Division with eight games remaining on the schedule. They’re in the hunt for their first West Division title since 2004.
GAME SUMMARY • HIGHLIGHTS
SAGINAW 2 HAMILTON 1 OT – Evan Cormier provided a late save on a penalty shot before Mitchell Stephens fed Tye Felhaber in the slot 12 seconds into overtime for the finish as the Saginaw Spirit took a 2-1 win in Hamilton. Kris Bennett provided the other Saginaw goal while Cormier earned first star honours with 31 saves as the Spirit got back in the win column. Trent Fox provided Hamilton’s lone goal while Connor Hicks earned second star honours with a 30-save performance. The Bulldogs earned a point in the loss and trail the Oshawa Generals, who won on Sunday, by two points for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
GAME SUMMARY • HIGHLIGHTS
WINDSOR 4 SAULT STE. MARIE 3 – The Windsor Spitfires held off the Soo Greyhounds late to take a 4-3 victory for their fifth straight win as draft eligible centreman Logan Brown potted his first OHL hat-trick. Brown’s three goals were accompanied by a goal and an assist from Christian Fischer who extended his current point streak to five games. Brendan Lemieux and Mikhail Sergachev each added two assists while Mario Culina made 24 saves to record the win in goal. The Spits wrap up their season series with a 5-1-0-0 record against Sault Ste. Marie, requiring overtime or a shootout for three of those victories. Greyhounds goaltender Brandon Halverson earned third star honours with 38 saves in the loss while Blake Speers, Boris Katchouk and Zach Senyshyn scored goals. The Spitfires are one point behind first place Sarnia in the West Division with three big matchups against the Sting looming large on the remainder of the schedule.
GAME SUMMARY • HIGHLIGHTS
OSHAWA 5 PETERBOROUGH 2 – The Oshawa Generals built off Saturday’s 5-0 shutout win over the Kitchener Rangers as Eric Henderson scored twice in a 5-2 triumph over the rival Peterborough Petes. Jeremy Brodeur was solid in goal once again, making 29 saves as Oshawa collected at least a point in a fourth straight game to climb two points ahead of Hamilton for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Overage veteran Alexandre Renaud and rookie forward Jack Studnicka each had a goal and an assist in the win while Domenic Commisso and Jalen Smereck each tallied two assists. Jonathan Ang and Hunter Garlent scored as the Petes suffered their fourth straight loss, falling a point behind sixth place Ottawa in the Eastern Conference. Goaltender Scott Smith made 25 saves in his first start of the season.
GAME SUMMARY • HIGHLIGHTS
ERIE 2 NIAGARA 1 – Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Travis Dermott netted the deciding goal with five minutes remaining in the third period as the Erie Otters defeated the Niagara IceDogs 2-1 on Sportsnet. Erie’s fourth straight win also featured a highlight reel goal off the stick of Arizona Coyotes prospect Dylan Strome. Otters veteran Devin Williams was beaten just once on 18 shots on a goal off the stick of Niagara’s Tyler Boston. Williams’ 37th win of the season sets a new Otters single-season record, surpassing Ramis Sadikov’s mark set in 2011. Carolina Hurricanes prospect Alex Nedeljkovic made 37 saves in the Niagara loss as the Dogs are knotted with the Mississauga Steelheads at 64 points for the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference.
GAME SUMMARY • HIGHLIGHTS
KINGSTON 5 SUDBURY 1 – The recently declared East Division Champion Kingston Frontenacs put their skill on display Sunday afternoon as Florida Panthers prospect Juho Lammikko scored twice in a 5-1 win over visiting Sudbury. New York Islanders first round pick Michael Dal Colle scored his 22nd goal in as many games as a Frontenac while adding two assists as Kingston earned a fourth straight win and ninth in the past 10 games. Lucas Peressini turned aside 26 of the 27 shots he faced, being beaten just once by Sudbury’s Mikkel Aagaard. Jared Steege and Spencer Watson also scored for Kingston as the Frontenacs improved to 39-15-2-2.
GAME SUMMARY • HIGHLIGHTS