Jon Maillet
For the Journal
Former Sarnia Sting netminder Ben Gaudreau was the game’s first star in his return to the Progressive Auto Sales Arena Sunday afternoon — making 25 saves in the Erie Otters’ 5-3 win.
Erie took control in the first period, scoring twice and taking a two-goal lead into the first intermission.
Sam Alfano started the scoring for Erie just over four minutes in — his seventh goal of the season — while Bruce McDonald added his fifth of the year at the 9:04 mark to give Erie a 2-0 lead after one.
Sarnia would get on the board early in the second period when Jacob LeBlanc scored an unassisted goal 3:24 into the middle frame to cut the Erie lead to 2-1.
The Otters would respond almost immediately on the powerplay, as Martin Misiak picked up his ninth of the season at the 4:51 mark of the second period, regaining the two-goal lead for the Otters at 3-1.
Carey Terrance would score the first of two goals on Sunday afternoon midway through the second, pushing the Otter lead to 4-1, giving Terrance 10 goals on the year now.
Tyson Doucette would later score his 10th of the season as well, bringing the Sting back to within two goals. Marko Sikic and Sandis Vilmanis assisted the goal to cut the Erie lead to 4-2. Doucette’s marker was the Sting’s only powerplay goal of the afternoon despite five opportunities.
In the third period, Sarnia would once again come within a goal of the Otters when Easton Wainwright scored his second to make it a 4-3 game with just under 12 minutes left. Cooper Way and Mitch Young each had assists on the goal that kept Sarnia close.
Erie though would control the pace in third, leading the shot clock for the period 8-4 and adding an insurance marker just a few minutes after Wainwright’s goal.
Otters forward Terrance would add his second of the game and 11th of the season to put Erie out in front 5-3, helping the Otters to the win.
Sting goalie Karsen Chartier started the game, but was pulled in favour of Nick Surzycia after giving up four goals on 12 shots. Surzycia stopped 12 of 13 faced in relief.
Sting forward Jacob LeBlanc was the lone Sting player among the three stars, taking the third star of the game with a goal.
Sarnia now looks ahead to Tuesday November 7 at the Progressive Auto Sales Arena for a rare morning game.
The Sting announced back in September, in partnership with Progressive Auto Group, St Clair Catholic District School Board and the Lambton Kent District School Board their inaugural School Day Game
Sarnia will host the Saginaw Spirit November 7 in front of a crowd of elementary school children from grades 3-6 in a special community focussed game, puck drops at 11am.
