Jon Maillet For the Journal
After winning the previous two meetings, the Sarnia Sting came out strong, but just fell short as the Windsor Spitfires took the 4-2 win Friday night at the Progressive Auto Sales Arena. Sarnia outshot the Spitfires 32-17, but Spits goalie Ian Michelonge was solid making 30 saves.
Oliver Peer and Alex Christopolus led the way for Windsor. Peer scored his fourth of the season, while Christopolus added a pair of assists in the win. Both were named stars of the game, along with Sting forward Zach Filak who scored his sixth of the season.
Filak would open the scoring in the second period, giving Sarnia the 1-0 lead off a great set up from Jacob LeBlanc; Sandis Vilamnis picked up the other assist on the play. The Sting would take the 1-0 lead into the third period, along with a 17-9 edge on the shot clock.
The Spitfires got out to a fast start in the final frame, scoring twice in the first two minutes to take a 2-1 lead.
Jacob Maillet scored the tying goal — his fourth of the season — just 26 seconds into the period. Oliver Peer added his fourth goal just 1:12 later.
Windsor would add to their lead just over six minutes later, when Cole Davis scored the first of two goals; his second goal of the season gave his team the two-goal lead, as the Sting trailed 3-1.
Sarnia would make good on an opportunity with the man advantage; Tyson Doucette would bring the Sting within a goal with just 3:52 left, his 8th of the season from LeBlanc and Marko Sikic.
Davis would ice it with his second of the game — third of the season — into the empty net with three seconds remaining to cap off a 4-2 win.
The Sting went one-for-five on the power play, while Windsor did not convert on two chances. Nick Surzycia got the start for Sarnia, stopping 13 of the 16 shots he faced. Sarnia now drops to 6-5-0 this season.
The Sting are on the road next, in Saginaw to take on the Spirit Saturday night with puck drop scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
Sarnia returns home Sunday for an afternoon game against the Niagara Ice Dogs; action gets underway at 2:05 p.m.
Tickets available at the box office and online at sarniasting.com