Sarnia stings Hounds in third period

A power play goal early in the third period proved the difference as the Sarnia Sting escaped with a win to create a log jam on top of the standings.

With Colt King of the Soo Greyhounds serving a major penalty for checking from behind, the Sarnia Sting broke open a 3-3 tie with a power play goal and an empty netter to defeat the Hounds 5-3 in Ontario Hockey League action in Sarnia on Friday night.

The victory for Sarnia moves the Sting into a first place tie with the Greyhounds in the West Division with 34 points each although Sarnia has five games in hand. The Plymouth Whalers sit just a point behind the leaders while the Windsor Spitfires have closed to within five points.

The loss for the Greyhounds, now 16-14-1-1, was the team's third straight and second on the three-game road trip after losing by the same 5-3 score in Windsor on Thursday night.

After Marco Caprara scored the game's opening goal for the Sting, the Greyhounds answered with a pair of quick goals midway through the first period from Jeff Doyle, his first of two goals on the night, and Adam Rhymer.

The Sting's David Pszenyczny tied the game at 2-2 with the lone goal of the second period.

Early in the third period, Daniel Sisca gave the Sting the led 3-2 just 1:20 into the frame. Doyle replied with his second to tie the game at 3-3 just 1:12 later.

Seconds after, King picked up the major penalty and Sisca scored the game winner 27 seconds into the five minute power play. John Hecimovic scored into the empty net to cap the scoring.

Jeff Carter added a pair of assists for the Hounds while newcomer Justin Anderson recorded a point for the second straight game with an assist.

Hecimovic, Daniel Carcillo and Joey Tenute recorded two assists each for the Sting while Sisca also added a helper.

Jakub Cech stopped 35 on 39 shots in the Greyhounds net while Ryan Munce stopped 19 of 22 shots fired his way for the Sting.

The game between the division rivals also produced a pair of fights as Hounds first round pick Chris Lawrence squared off with Sault native Kelsey Wilson in the first period while Hounds rookie David Jarram battled Sarnia's Craig Foster in the third.

The Greyhounds will have a chance to salvage some points from the road trip on Saturday night as the team travels to Saginaw to meet the Spirit, the division's basement dwellers, at 7:30 p.m.

The Greyhounds return home to begin a three-game set on Wednesday as the Sudbury Wolves visit Memorial Gardens at 7 p.m.