Three power play goals and another strong goaltending performance by Justin Fazio lifted the Sarnia Sting to a 5-2 win over the Bulldogs in Hamilton Friday night.
Sarnia was outshot 41-27 but Fazio was stellar in goal, recording his 12th win of the season, and Nikita Korostelev led the offence with a goal and two assists.
The Sting opened the scoring with the man advantage late in the first period on Anthony Salinitri's one-timer on a beautiful cross ice pass from Korostelev. MacKenzie Entwhistle would tie the game just 34 seconds later and the teams would head into the first intermission tied at 1.
Fazio allowed just one goal on 17 shots in the second period while the Sting put three goals past Brigden native and former Sting Kaden Fulcher who was traded to Hamilton last year for overage netminder Charlie Graham. Jaden Lindo scored from in close on the power play and Jordan Kyrou netted what would prove to be the game winner midway through the period. After the Bulldogs again pulled to within a goal, rookie Brady Hinz gave the Sting a 4-2 lead just 28 seconds before the second period buzzer.
Korostelev's one time slapshot on the power play early in the third would find the back of the net for his team-leading 15th goal of the season. There would be no more scoring in the final 20 minutes despite Sarnia being outshot 11-4.
Salinitri, Jeff King and Franco Sproviero all had two point nights for the Sting.
Sarnia returns to the Progressive Auto Sales Arena Saturday night to host the Kingston Frontenacs. Listen to all the action on 103.9 FM, 1070 AM, CHOK.