Jon Maillet For the Journal
Sarnia Sting goaltender Nick Surzycia stood tall again, making 29 saves in a 5-3 win over the London Knights Saturday night at the Progressive Auto Sales Arena.
Sarnia bounced back from their Friday night loss against Flint, when they faced the London Knights Saturday night in the first meeting of the season in the ‘battle of the 402.’
Special teams played a huge role for Sarnia; the Sting converted twice on three chances with the man advantage, with a flawless penalty kill — killing off all five of London’s powerplay chances.
Sandis Vilmanis scored his first of the season and chipped in two assists while Tyson Doucette scored his sixth of season and added an assist, as the Sting improved to 4-3-0 on the season, and sit currently in second place in the west division.
After a scoreless first period, Sarnia would score three in the second to take a 3-1 lead into the second intermission.
Roman Kukumberg started the scoring with his third of the season, while Vilmanis picked up his first goal this season on the powerplay, and Mitch Young rounded out the scoring in the second period, with his third of the season.
Sarnia would add two more goals in the third period; Doucette — continuing with the hot hand — scored his sixth of the season, while Cooper Way added the insurance goal, his first this season, with just under five minutes left.
London’s Denver Barkey scored all three London goals, giving him seven now on the season.
The Sting have a pair of road games next weekend. Friday night they travel to Niagara to take on the Ice Dogs, then off to Erie for a game against the Otters on Saturday night.