By Carl Chimenti
The Sarnia Sting (39-17-5-4) extended their unbeaten streak to 16 games, as they played a text-book road game, beating the Owen Sound Attack (31-27-6-1) 6-1 Tuesday night, at the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre.
It was the first game of a home and home series between the two clubs, with the second game to be played in the finale home game for the Sting, this Friday night, at the Progressive Auto Sales Arena.
The win pulled Sarnia to with-in one point of the second place London Knights in the Western Conference, with both teams having three games remaining on their 2022-23 schedule. The Sting have also crept up on the first place Windsor Spitfires, who hold a three-point lead, with three games remaining as well.
Ty Voit (Toronto Maple Leafs) and Sandis Vilmanis (Florida Panthers) each scored two goals. Voit’s first goal came in the opening period as he reached the century mark of 100 points this season. The second goal, which was the only goal in the third period, was his third multiple goal game of the year and extended his current point streak to eight games (5-9-14). Voit, was named first star of the game.
Brenden Anderson was selected as the third star with a goal and an assist and Marko Sikic also scored once for the Sting. For Anderson, it was his third straight game with a goal and extended his point streak to three games (3-1-4). Sikic, now has a current four-game point streak (2-2-4).
Sasha Pastujov (Anaheim Ducks) and Luca Del Bel Belluz (Columbus Blue Jackets) had a pair of assists each. Del Bel Belluz, also has a current point streak that hit eight games tonight (5-13-18).
Cooper Way, Christian Kyrou (Dallas Stars) and Marcus Limpar-Lantz added an assist each. Limpar-Lantz ran his current point streak to three games (1-2-3).
Sting goaltender Nicholas Surzycia, made his second straight start and was outstanding, especially in the second period. In all he stopped 28 of 29 shots. Sarnia overall out-shot Owen Sound by a wide margin of 41-29.
In the special teams play Sarnia scored the only goal on the power-play (1/4) while holding Owen Sound scoreless twice, with the man-advantage.
The Sarnia Sting scored three first period goals highlighted by Voit’s 21st of the year, as he hit the milestone plateau of 100 points this season. The Sting struck early as Vilmanis scored his 18th of the season at 1:34. He was set up on a pass from Way and managed to get his stick on the puck deflecting it into the net.
Voit made 2-0 at 5:13 hitting the milestone mark of 100 points. Voit was behind the Owen Sound defense and received a pass from Del Bel Belluz, before putting the puck in the net. Owen Sound cut the deficit to one goal as Deni Goure scored his 30th of the year at 14:29 from Teddy Sawyer and Servac Petrovsky (Minnesota Wild). Sarnia quickly got that one back as Sikic scored his 12th of the season, 32 seconds later, at 15:01, on the power-play. Pastujov and Kyrou assisted on the goal. Sarnia out-shot Owen Sound 14-12.
Speed and solid goaltending were on display, courtesy of the Sarnia Sting, in the middle frame. Sarnia scored the only two goals of the period, both coming in spectacular high-light reel fashion, that lifted Sarnia fans off their feet, watching at home.
Anderson scored the first of the two goals as he picked up the puck near his blue-line and then used his speed and reach, that left everyone watching breathless, as he scored his fifth of the season at 1:38 with Limpar-Lantz assisting.
Vilmanis scored his second of the game and 19th of the season late at 19:32. The Florida Panthers prospect nearly went coast to coast, exploding by Attack would be defenders, before roofing the puck past Owen Sound goaltender Corbin Votary. Anderson drew the lone assist on the goal.
Surzycia was solid in net as the Sting committed numerous giveaways, especially in the last five minutes, coming up with some great key saves, stopping all nine shots he faced.
