Goaltender Taylor Dupuis was the best player on the ice as the shorthanded Sarnia Sting posted a big 4-1 win in Kitchener Friday night.
Coming off a home ice loss to the London Knights Thursday, in a game Dupuis did not dress for due to a minor groin injury, the overage netminder stopped 38 of 39 Ranger shots and was named the game's first star.
The Sting jumped out to a 2-0 lead early in the second on Troy Lajeunesse's eighth of the season that would turn out to be the game winner. The diminutive forward was able to squeeze the puck between the post and pad of Dawson Carty on a quick wrap-around.
Sarnia led 1-0 after the first on a deft tip-in goal by Patrick White, his eighth.
The Rangers outshot the Sting 39-23 and 18-7 in the second but Dupuis made numerous point blank saves in the Sportsnet televised game to keep his team in front. He has now won his last nine games.
Nikita Korostelev got a big insurance goal on a quick wrist shot, his fifteenth of the year, with about eight minutes to go in the third and Daniel Nikandrov put the game away with a late power play goal, his ninth.
Defenceman Kevin Spinozzi continued his strong play with two assists and is now plus 22.
White, Anthony DeAngelo, Jeff King, Stephen Pierog and Alex Renaud had an assist each.
The Sting again played with seven regulars out of the lineup due to injury and the upcoming World Junior Hockey Championship.
Sarnia (16-13-1-1) moves into a tie for fifth in the OHL Western Conference with the Rangers and Owen Sound.
The team plays its third in three days Saturday night at home to the Peterborough Petes and is home to the Saginaw Spirit Friday December 19 in the last game before the holiday break.
Listen to all the action on 103.9 FM, 1070 AM CHOK.
